When you need to explain why something happened or why you did something, the Finnish word you're looking for is perustelu. Think of it as the 'reasoning' or 'justification' behind an action or a statement. It's about providing an argument that supports your point. For example, if someone asks you why you chose a particular option, your answer would be your perustelu.
When you're trying to convince someone or explain your choices in Finnish, the word perustelu is very useful. It's a noun that refers to the act of justifying something, providing the reasons behind a decision, or presenting an argument to support a claim.
Think of it as the 'why' behind what you're saying or doing. For example, if you're asked why you chose a particular solution, your perustelu would be the explanation of your thought process and the factors that led to your choice.
You might encounter it in contexts where clear, logical explanations are needed, such as in professional settings, academic discussions, or even everyday conversations when people need to understand the basis of a statement or action.
Having a good perustelu means you can articulate your position effectively and give solid reasons for your viewpoint, which is a key part of fluent communication at the B2 level and beyond.
perustelu in 30 Sekunden
- reasoning
- justification
- argument
§ Understanding 'perustelu' in context
You've learned that 'perustelu' means justification, reasoning, or argument. Now, let's look at where you'll actually encounter this word in real life. This isn't just for academic papers; it's a common and practical word in Finnish.
§ 'Perustelu' in the workplace
In the Finnish workplace, you'll hear 'perustelu' frequently. When decisions are made, especially important ones, people expect a clear 'perustelu'. This isn't about lengthy reports; it's about providing solid reasons for your actions or proposals. It shows you've thought things through.
- DEFINITION
- When your boss asks for a 'perustelu' for a project, they want to know why it's a good idea and what benefits it will bring. It's about convincing them with facts and logic.
Esitä selkeät perustelut budjetin korotukselle. (Provide clear justifications for the budget increase.)
Puuttuva perustelu johti ehdotuksen hylkäämiseen. (The missing justification led to the proposal's rejection.)
§ 'Perustelu' in academic and school settings
If you're studying in Finland, or interacting with Finnish students, 'perustelu' is a staple word. Teachers and professors will constantly ask for 'perustelut' for your answers, opinions, or choices in assignments. It's not enough to just state something; you need to back it up.
- DEFINITION
- When writing an essay, you'll need strong 'perustelut' to support your thesis. This means using evidence, examples, and logical arguments.
Opettaja vaatii hyviä perusteluja jokaiselle vastaukselle. (The teacher demands good justifications for every answer.)
Puolustuksen perustelut olivat vakuuttavat. (The defense's arguments were convincing.)
§ 'Perustelu' in the news and public discourse
Turn on the Finnish news or read a newspaper, and you'll quickly spot 'perustelu'. Politicians, experts, and public figures constantly provide 'perustelut' for their stances, policies, or criticisms. It's how public debate functions in Finland.
- DEFINITION
- When a politician proposes a new law, they must present their 'perustelut' to the public and other lawmakers. These are the reasons why they believe the law is necessary or beneficial.
Ministeri antoi vankat perustelut uudelle laille. (The minister gave strong justifications for the new law.)
Medialle esitettiin kattavat perustelut päätökselle. (Comprehensive reasonings for the decision were presented to the media.)
§ Everyday use of 'perustelu'
While we've focused on more formal settings, 'perustelu' also pops up in everyday conversations, especially when discussing decisions or disagreements. It's often about wanting to understand the 'why' behind something.
For example, if a friend cancels plans last minute, you might informally ask for a 'perustelu' (reasoning) for the cancellation. It's about seeking clarity and understanding, not necessarily a formal argument.
En ymmärrä hänen perustelua muutokselle. (I don't understand his reasoning for the change.)
Remember, Finns value clear communication and logical thought. Providing a good 'perustelu' shows respect for the other person and helps to build trust.
- It's common to hear 'Mitä on sinun perustelusi?' (What is your justification?)
- Or 'Onko sinulla jotain perusteluja?' (Do you have any justifications?)
How Formal Is It?
"Johtaja esitti vakuuttavat perustelunsa päätökselle. (The director presented their convincing justifications for the decision.)"
"Tarvitsemme hyvän perustelun, jotta voimme hyväksyä ehdotuksen. (We need a good justification so we can approve the proposal.)"
"Anna nyt joku kunnon selitys, miksi olit myöhässä. (Now give some proper explanation why you were late.)"
"Mikä oli syy, miksi et halunnut mennä nukkumaan? (What was the reason why you didn't want to go to sleep?)"
"Älä nyt mitään diipadaapaa selitä, vaan sano suoraan. (Don't explain any diipadaapa, just say it directly.)"
Wusstest du?
Finnish often builds complex nouns and verbs from simpler roots, and 'perustelu' is a good example of this, clearly showing its derivation from 'perustaa'.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Can be easily confused with 'perusta' (basis) or 'perustella' (to justify).
Requires correct case endings depending on context.
Pronunciation is straightforward but stress is on the first syllable.
Distinguishing from similar-sounding words might require context.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Anna perustelu päätöksellesi.
Give a justification for your decision.
Hän esitti hyvän perustelun.
He presented a good justification.
Minulla on perustelu siihen.
I have a justification for that.
Tämä on looginen perustelu.
This is logical reasoning.
Puuttuuko tästä perustelu?
Is the justification missing from this?
Vaadin kirjallisen perustelun.
I demand a written justification.
Hänen perustelunsa oli vahva.
His argument was strong.
Mitä perusteluja sinulla on?
What justifications do you have?
Päätökseen tarvitaan perustelu.
The decision needs a justification.
Etsi riittävä perustelu.
Find sufficient justification.
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Tipps
Basic use of perustelu
Perustelu is a versatile word. Think of it as 'the reason why something is done or said'. You'll use it a lot when asking for or giving explanations.
Perustelu in a sentence
Example: 'Mikä on sinun perustelu tälle päätökselle?' (What is your justification for this decision?) Here, we're asking for the reasoning behind a choice.
Plural form: perustelut
Often, there isn't just one reason. The plural 'perustelut' means 'justifications' or 'reasons'. Example: 'Hän esitti hyvät perustelut.' (He presented good reasons/justifications.)
Related verb: perustella
The verb 'perustella' means 'to justify' or 'to give reasons for'. If you're giving a perustelu, you are perustelemassa (justifying).
Don't confuse with 'syy'
While similar, 'syy' means 'cause' or 'fault'. 'Perustelu' is more about the reasoning or argumentation. You ask 'Miksi?' (Why?) for both, but the answers are different in nuance.
Common phrase: 'ilman perusteluja'
'Ilman perusteluja' means 'without justification' or 'without giving reasons'. It's a common way to express that something was done or said without proper explanation.
Formal and informal use
Perustelu is used in both formal and informal contexts. You might hear it in a work meeting or a casual discussion among friends when someone needs to explain their viewpoint.
Finnish communication style
Finns appreciate clear and logical perustelut. Being able to explain your position well is a valued communication skill. Avoid vague statements.
Perustelulomake
In administrative contexts, you might encounter 'perustelulomake', which means a 'justification form' – a document where you need to provide your reasons in writing.
Practice asking for perustelu
Next time someone makes a statement or decision, try asking: 'Mitä on sinun perustelusi tälle?' (What is your reasoning for this?) This helps solidify your understanding and usage.
Wortherkunft
From 'perustaa' (to found, establish) + '-u' (a noun-forming suffix).
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The act of founding or establishing, leading to the idea of providing a foundation for an argument.
Uralic, Finnic branchKultureller Kontext
When Finns use 'perustelu', they often expect a logical and well-thought-out explanation. It's not just about giving a reason, but providing a solid foundation for your point of view. In Finnish culture, direct and clear communication is valued, so a good 'perustelu' is appreciated in discussions and decision-making.
Teste dich selbst 66 Fragen
Se on hyvä ___.
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Talo' is house, 'kissa' is cat, and 'auto' is car. So 'Se on hyvä perustelu' means 'That is a good justification'.
Minulla on ___ tähän.
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Kirja' is book, 'ruoka' is food, and 'vesi' is water. So 'Minulla on perustelu tähän' means 'I have a justification for this'.
Mikä on sinun ___?
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Nimi' is name, 'ikä' is age, and 'työ' is work. So 'Mikä on sinun perustelu?' means 'What is your reasoning?'
Hänellä ei ollut ___.
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Puhelin' is phone, 'laukku' is bag, and 'hattu' is hat. So 'Hänellä ei ollut perustelu' means 'He/She did not have a justification'.
Tarvitsen ___.
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Paita' is shirt, 'kenkä' is shoe, and 'housut' is trousers. So 'Tarvitsen perustelu' means 'I need a justification'.
Se on huono ___.
Here, 'perustelu' means 'reasoning' or 'justification'. 'Auto' is car, 'talo' is house, and 'kirja' is book. So 'Se on huono perustelu' means 'That is a bad justification'.
a common greeting
what you say when you receive something
what you say when you leave
Read this aloud:
Moi
Focus: oy
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Read this aloud:
Ole hyvä
Focus: leh hy-vä
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Read this aloud:
Hyvää päivää
Focus: hy-vää päi-vää
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The basic sentence structure in Finnish is Subject-Verb-Object. 'Tämä' (This) is the subject, 'on' (is) is the verb, and 'hyvä perustelu' (a good justification) is the object/complement.
This forms a question asking about someone's justification. 'Mitä' (What) starts the question, 'sinun' (your) modifies 'perustelu' (justification), and 'on' (is) is the verb.
This sentence means 'I don't have a justification.' 'Minulla' (I have/at me) is the possessive structure, 'ei ole' (don't have) is the negative verb, and 'perustelua' is the partitive form of 'perustelu' used after negative verbs.
Miksi sinä ___ työhön myöhään?
The sentence asks 'Why were you late for work?' and 'perustelu' (justification) doesn't fit grammatically. 'myöhästyit' (you were late) fits the context.
Voitko antaa minulle hyvän ___ siitä päätöksestäsi?
The sentence asks 'Can you give me a good justification for your decision?' 'Perustelu' (justification) is the correct word here.
Hänellä oli vahva ___ myöhästymiseensä.
The sentence means 'He had a strong justification for his lateness.' 'Perustelu' fits best in this context.
Sana 'perustelu' tarkoittaa samaa kuin 'auto'.
'Perustelu' means justification, reasoning, or argument. 'Auto' means car.
Voimme käyttää sanaa 'perustelu', kun haluamme selittää syyn jollekin.
'Perustelu' is used to explain the reason or justification for something.
Kun joku kysyy 'Miksi?', hän haluaa usein kuulla 'perustelun'.
When someone asks 'Why?', they are typically seeking a reason or justification, which is what 'perustelu' means.
Write a short sentence giving a simple reason for being late to work. Use 'koska'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Olin myöhässä, koska bussi oli myöhässä. (I was late because the bus was late.)
Explain in one sentence why you like Finnish food.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Pidän suomalaisesta ruoasta, koska se on hyvää. (I like Finnish food because it is good.)
Write a sentence to justify why you need a new phone.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Tarvitsen uuden puhelimen, koska vanha on rikki. (I need a new phone because the old one is broken.)
Mitä syitä tekstissä annetaan suomen opiskeluun?
Read this passage:
Miksi opiskelet suomea? Moni opiskelee suomea, koska haluaa ymmärtää elokuvia tai lauluja. Toiset opiskelevat suomea, koska heillä on suomalaisia ystäviä. Kolmas ryhmä opiskelee suomea, koska he haluavat asua Suomessa. Mikä on sinun perustelusi?
Mitä syitä tekstissä annetaan suomen opiskeluun?
The text lists three reasons: to understand movies or songs, having Finnish friends, or wanting to live in Finland.
The text lists three reasons: to understand movies or songs, having Finnish friends, or wanting to live in Finland.
Miksi henkilö ei voi tulla juhliin?
Read this passage:
Minulla on perustelu, miksi en voi tulla juhliin. Olen sairas ja minun täytyy levätä. En halua, että muutkin sairastuvat. Toivottavasti ymmärrät.
Miksi henkilö ei voi tulla juhliin?
The text clearly states 'Olen sairas' (I am sick).
The text clearly states 'Olen sairas' (I am sick).
Mikä on hyvä perustelu uuden auton ostamiselle tekstin mukaan?
Read this passage:
Uusi auto on kallis, mutta minulla on hyvä perustelu sen ostamiselle. Vanha auto on todella vanha ja korjaukset ovat kalliita. Uusi auto on turvallisempi ja luotettavampi.
Mikä on hyvä perustelu uuden auton ostamiselle tekstin mukaan?
The passage mentions that the old car is expensive to repair and the new one is safer and more reliable.
The passage mentions that the old car is expensive to repair and the new one is safer and more reliable.
Mitä sana 'perustelu' tarkoittaa?
The word 'perustelu' translates to 'justification', 'reasoning', or 'argument' in English.
Valitse paras synonyymi sanalle 'perustelu'.
'Argumentti' (argument) is a good synonym for 'perustelu' (justification/reasoning) in many contexts.
Minkä sanan 'perustelu' voi korvata lauseessa: 'Hänen ___ oli vakuuttava.'
'Selitys' (explanation) can often be used interchangeably with 'perustelu' when referring to explaining a point.
Voimme käyttää sanaa 'perustelu' kun haluamme selittää syyn jollekin asialle.
Yes, 'perustelu' is used to explain the reason or justification for something.
Lauseessa 'Minulla ei ollut hyvää perustelua päätökselleni' sana 'perustelu' tarkoittaa 'ratkaisua'.
In this sentence, 'perustelu' means 'justification' or 'reasoning', not 'solution'.
Sana 'perustelu' on aina positiivinen termi.
'Perustelu' itself is neutral; it's the quality of the justification that can be positive or negative (e.g., a good justification or a poor one).
The justification was clear and convincing.
I don't understand the justifications for this decision.
We need better justifications for continuing the project.
Read this aloud:
Anna minulle perustelu päätöksellesi.
Focus: pe-rus-te-lu
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Osaatko esittää perusteluja väitteillesi?
Focus: väit-teil-le-si
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Hänen perustelunsa ei ollut tarpeeksi vahva.
Focus: tar-pees-si
Du hast gesagt:
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Päätöksenteon tueksi esitetyt ___ on analysoitava huolellisesti.
In this context, 'perustelut' refers to the justifications or reasonings presented to support the decision-making process.
Hallituksen tulee esittää kattava ___ lakiesitykselleen.
Here, 'perustelu' means the comprehensive reasoning or justification that the government needs to provide for its bill.
Tutkimuksen tulosten ___ puuttuu usein riittävä tieteellinen näyttö.
The sentence implies that the justification ('perustelu') for the research results often lacks sufficient scientific evidence.
Oppilaiden on kyettävä antamaan looginen ___ valinnoilleen.
Students must be able to provide a logical justification ('perustelu') for their choices.
Tuomioistuimen päätöksessä oli selkeä ja yksityiskohtainen ___ langetetusta tuomiosta.
The court's decision included a clear and detailed justification ('perustelu') for the sentence given.
Väitteen tueksi esitetty ___ ei ollut tarpeeksi vakuuttava.
The justification ('perustelu') presented to support the claim was not convincing enough.
Listen for the word 'perustelunsa' and how it's used in a negative context.
Listen for the subject 'johtaja' and what they demanded.
Listen for the context of an academic debate and what it requires.
Read this aloud:
Voitko antaa lisäperusteluja päätöksellesi?
Focus: lisäperusteluja
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Ymmärsin hänen perustelunsa, vaikka en ollutkaan samaa mieltä.
Focus: perustelunsa
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Komitea pyysi kirjallisen perustelun muutosehdotukselle.
Focus: kirjallisen perustelun
Du hast gesagt:
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This sentence means 'His/Her justification for the decision was convincing.' You need to arrange the words in the correct Finnish sentence structure.
This sentence means 'I demand a clear justification for this change.' Pay attention to the case endings.
This sentence means 'The better justifications you give, the more credible you are.' This is a comparative structure.
Can you present a stronger justification for your decision?
His reasoning was entirely convincing.
What arguments do you have to support your claim?
Read this aloud:
Selitä, mikä on tärkein perustelu työllesi tässä projektissa.
Focus: perustelu
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Voitko esittää perustelun, miksi tämä lähestymistapa on parempi?
Focus: lähestymistapa
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Millä perusteluilla voisit kumota vastapuolen argumentin?
Focus: kumota
Du hast gesagt:
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/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Perustelu is crucial for explaining 'why' something is done or believed in Finnish.
- reasoning
- justification
- argument
Basic use of perustelu
Perustelu is a versatile word. Think of it as 'the reason why something is done or said'. You'll use it a lot when asking for or giving explanations.
Perustelu in a sentence
Example: 'Mikä on sinun perustelu tälle päätökselle?' (What is your justification for this decision?) Here, we're asking for the reasoning behind a choice.
Plural form: perustelut
Often, there isn't just one reason. The plural 'perustelut' means 'justifications' or 'reasons'. Example: 'Hän esitti hyvät perustelut.' (He presented good reasons/justifications.)
Related verb: perustella
The verb 'perustella' means 'to justify' or 'to give reasons for'. If you're giving a perustelu, you are perustelemassa (justifying).
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr academic Wörter
aihe
B1A subject, topic, or theme
aiheellinen
B1relevant or well-founded
aihepiiri
B2Topic area, subject field, or domain.
aikaansaada
B1to bring about or cause
ajatus
B1thought
arvio
B2an estimate, evaluation, or assessment
arvioida
B1to evaluate, assess, or estimate
arvioija
B2assessor or evaluator
arviointi
B2Evaluation, assessment or appraisal.
arvostella
B2To criticize, review or assess.
