Bedeutung
Something is at a great distance.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Finns value 'oma rauha' (own peace), so being 'kaukana' from neighbors is often a status symbol or a goal for a summer house. In Northern Finland, 'kaukana' is relative. A 100km drive to a store might not be considered 'very far' by locals. Physical distance is important in social queues. Standing 'kaukana' from the person in front of you is a sign of respect for their personal space. The theme of being 'kaukana' (from home, from loved ones) is a staple of Finnish war literature and melancholic poetry.
The Static Rule
Remember that 'kaukana' is like a snapshot. If you aren't moving, use 'kaukana'.
Time Trap
Don't use this for time! Say 'pitkä aika' instead of 'kaukana' for deadlines.
Bedeutung
Something is at a great distance.
The Static Rule
Remember that 'kaukana' is like a snapshot. If you aren't moving, use 'kaukana'.
Time Trap
Don't use this for time! Say 'pitkä aika' instead of 'kaukana' for deadlines.
Figurative Power
Use 'kaukana totuudesta' in debates to sound more like a native speaker.
Personal Space
If someone is standing too close, you might think they should 'olla kauempana' (be further away).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'olla'.
Minä ______ kaukana kotoa.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the verb 'olla' must be 'olen'.
Which sentence is correct for movement?
You want to tell someone to go far away.
Movement requires 'kauas', while 'kaukana' is for a static location.
Match the Finnish phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common idiomatic uses of the phrase.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Onko posti lähellä? B: Ei, se ______ ______.
The speaker is saying 'No, it is far away.'
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Kaukana vs. Lähellä
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenMinä ______ kaukana kotoa.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the verb 'olla' must be 'olen'.
You want to tell someone to go far away.
Movement requires 'kauas', while 'kaukana' is for a static location.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are common idiomatic uses of the phrase.
A: Onko posti lähellä? B: Ei, se ______ ______.
The speaker is saying 'No, it is far away.'
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenYes, 'Hän on kaukana' means 'He/she is far away.'
'Kaukana' is more common and general. 'Etäällä' is slightly more formal and can imply a specific distance.
Use 'kaukana täältä'.
No, it is an adverb, though it functions like a predicate in 'olla' sentences.
It's rare. Finns prefer 'kaukana' for space, not time.
The opposite is 'lähellä' (near).
No, 'kaukana' stays the same. Only the verb 'olla' changes (e.g., 'He ovat kaukana').
The comparative form is 'kauempana'.
Yes, especially to say a goal or agreement is 'far away'.
Yes, 'Hän on kaukana' can mean someone is distracted or emotionally unavailable.
Usually the elative (-sta/-stä) or partitive case.
It is 'kaukana kotoa' (partitive/elative-like form).
Verwandte Redewendungen
pysyä kaukana
similarto stay far away
olla etäällä
synonymto be at a distance
olla lähellä
contrastto be near
pitkän matkan päässä
similarat a long distance
olla kaukaisuudessa
specialized formto be in the far distance
