A1 Collocation 중립

Pieni mahdollisuus

Small chance

Low probability.

🌍

문화적 배경

Finns are known for their realism. Using 'pieni mahdollisuus' is often a sign of honesty rather than pessimism. It's better to be realistic than to over-promise. In Finnish meetings, this phrase is a 'hedge'. It allows a speaker to mention a risk without being blamed for being too negative. Finnish sports commentators use this constantly when the national team is playing against a much stronger opponent (like in Ice Hockey). It keeps the fans engaged. On Finnish Twitter/X, you'll see this used sarcastically when something very unlikely happens, or when someone is 'delusional' about their chances.

💡

Add 'Vielä'

Adding 'vielä' (still) before the phrase makes you sound much more like a native speaker when expressing hope: 'On vielä pieni mahdollisuus.'

⚠️

Double Letters

Be careful with the spelling of 'mahdollisuus'. It has two L's and two U's. If you miss them, it changes the rhythm of the word.

Low probability.

💡

Add 'Vielä'

Adding 'vielä' (still) before the phrase makes you sound much more like a native speaker when expressing hope: 'On vielä pieni mahdollisuus.'

⚠️

Double Letters

Be careful with the spelling of 'mahdollisuus'. It has two L's and two U's. If you miss them, it changes the rhythm of the word.

🎯

The 'Että' Clause

Always use a comma before 'että' when following this phrase with a verb: 'On pieni mahdollisuus, että...'

💬

Finnish Realism

If a Finn says 'pieni mahdollisuus', they aren't being negative; they are being precise. Don't take it as a 'no'!

셀프 테스트

Fill in the missing word to say 'There is a small chance.'

On _____ mahdollisuus.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: pieni

'Pieni' means small, which is the correct adjective for a low probability.

Which sentence is correct in the negative form?

How do you say 'There isn't even a small chance'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Ei ole pientä mahdollisuutta.

Negative sentences in Finnish require the partitive case (-ä and -tta).

Complete the dialogue naturally.

A: Voittaako Suomi Euroviisut? B: ____________________.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: On pieni mahdollisuus.

This is a natural way to answer a question about an unlikely but possible event.

Match the phrase to the situation.

When would you say 'On pieni mahdollisuus'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: When it might rain, but probably won't.

The phrase describes low but non-zero probability.

🎉 점수: /4

시각 학습 자료

Formal vs Informal Chance

Formal
vähäinen mahdollisuus slight possibility
Neutral
pieni mahdollisuus small chance
Informal
pieni sauma small seam/chance

연습 문제 은행

4 연습 문제
Fill in the missing word to say 'There is a small chance.' Fill Blank A1

On _____ mahdollisuus.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: pieni

'Pieni' means small, which is the correct adjective for a low probability.

Which sentence is correct in the negative form? Choose B1

How do you say 'There isn't even a small chance'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: Ei ole pientä mahdollisuutta.

Negative sentences in Finnish require the partitive case (-ä and -tta).

Complete the dialogue naturally. dialogue_completion A2

A: Voittaako Suomi Euroviisut? B: ____________________.

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: On pieni mahdollisuus.

This is a natural way to answer a question about an unlikely but possible event.

Match the phrase to the situation. situation_matching A1

When would you say 'On pieni mahdollisuus'?

✓ 정답! ✗ 아쉬워요. 정답: When it might rain, but probably won't.

The phrase describes low but non-zero probability.

🎉 점수: /4

자주 묻는 질문

12 질문

Yes, 'vähäinen mahdollisuus' is correct and slightly more formal. In everyday speech, 'pieni' is much more common.

Mostly, yes. It covers both 'possibility' and 'opportunity'.

You say 'Ei mahdollisuutta' or more strongly 'Ei mitään mahdollisuutta'.

That is the partitive case, used in negative sentences or when the action is ongoing/incomplete.

Not directly. You wouldn't say 'Hän on pieni mahdollisuus'. You say 'Hänellä on pieni mahdollisuus' (He has a small chance).

Yes, it's very neutral and polite. It's a safe way to say 'unlikely' without being rude.

No, it is standard Finnish. For slang, you might use the word 'sauma'.

It's better to be more positive in an application, but you might use it when discussing risks in a cover letter.

It's a soft breathy sound, like the 'h' in 'hat'. Don't skip it!

You can just say 'Ehkä' (Maybe), but 'pieni mahdollisuus' is more descriptive.

No, 'mahdollinen' is an adjective (possible). You need the noun 'mahdollisuus' (possibility).

관련 표현

🔗

suuri mahdollisuus

contrast

High probability

🔗

viimeinen mahdollisuus

similar

Last chance

🔗

teoreettinen mahdollisuus

specialized form

Theoretical possibility

🔄

sauma

synonym

A chance/seam

🔗

oljenkorsi

similar

A straw (to clutch at)

🔗

ehkä

builds on

Maybe

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