Signification
To face an obstacle.
Contexte culturel
Finns value 'vaatimattomuus' (modesty). When someone talks about their 'vastoinkäymiset', they are often showing strength without bragging. In Finnish companies, 'vastoinkäyminen' is often used in 'post-mortem' meetings to objectively discuss what went wrong without pointing fingers. The 'vastoinkäyminen' is a central theme in the 'national romantic' era, where the Finnish people are seen as struggling against nature and oppression. Finnish sports fans use this phrase to describe 'the curse' of Finnish sports (near misses and bad luck).
Use Plural for Life
If you are talking about general life struggles, always use the plural partitive: 'vastoinkäymisiä'.
Don't Overuse
It's a powerful phrase. If you use it for everything, you'll sound like a drama queen.
Signification
To face an obstacle.
Use Plural for Life
If you are talking about general life struggles, always use the plural partitive: 'vastoinkäymisiä'.
Don't Overuse
It's a powerful phrase. If you use it for everything, you'll sound like a drama queen.
The Sisu Connection
Pair this with words like 'selvitä' (survive) or 'voittaa' (win) to show a positive attitude.
Verb Gradation
Remember: kokea -> koen. The 'k' disappears in many forms!
Teste-toi
Täytä puuttuva sana oikeassa muodossa (kokea).
Viime vuonna me _________ monta vastoinkäymistä.
The subject is 'me' (we), and the context is 'viime vuonna' (last year), so we need the past tense first person plural.
Mikä lause on luonnollisin?
Valitse paras vaihtoehto:
The first is too trivial, the third has the subject and object reversed.
Yhdistä tilanne ja oikea ilmaisu.
Tilanne: Urheilija häviää tärkeän kisan.
Losing a race is a classic 'vastoinkäyminen'.
Täytä dialogi.
A: Miksi olet surullinen? B: Olen _________ vastoinkäymisiä työssäni.
The perfect tense (olen kokenut) is used to describe something that has happened and still affects the present.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs. Informal Setbacks
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesViime vuonna me _________ monta vastoinkäymistä.
The subject is 'me' (we), and the context is 'viime vuonna' (last year), so we need the past tense first person plural.
Valitse paras vaihtoehto:
The first is too trivial, the third has the subject and object reversed.
Tilanne: Urheilija häviää tärkeän kisan.
Losing a race is a classic 'vastoinkäyminen'.
A: Miksi olet surullinen? B: Olen _________ vastoinkäymisiä työssäni.
The perfect tense (olen kokenut) is used to describe something that has happened and still affects the present.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it always refers to a setback or problem. However, the act of overcoming it is seen as positive.
No, you don't 'experience a person' as a vastoinkäyminen. You experience a situation.
'Takaisku' is more like a 'blow' or a sudden reversal. 'Vastoinkäyminen' is broader and can be a long-term hardship.
Minä koin, sinä koit, hän koki, me koimme, te koette, he kokivat.
Only if the topic is serious. For a missed bus, it's too formal.
Yes, the object is usually in the partitive (vastoinkäymisiä) or accusative (vastoinkäymisen).
Metaphorically, yes, in a news report about a robot mission failing.
No, you must use a verb like 'kokea' or 'kohdata' with the noun.
Yes, it's a favorite for describing challenges in the writing section of the YKI test.
Menestys (success) or onnistuminen (succeeding).
Expressions liées
kohdata vaikeuksia
synonymto meet difficulties
saada takaisku
similarto get a setback
selvitä vastoinkäymisistä
builds onto survive/overcome setbacks
vastoinkäymisten sarja
specialized forma series of setbacks
voittaa esteet
contrastto overcome obstacles
