Meaning
Something requiring much effort.
Cultural Background
In Finland, complaining about being busy is sometimes seen as bragging about being important, but saying you have 'täysi työ' is seen as a humble admission of a challenge. In Finnish meetings, if someone says they have 'täysi työ' with a project, it is a polite signal that they cannot take on any more tasks. The phrase reflects the harsh conditions of Finnish history where every task (like farming or building) was literally a 'full job' for the whole family. Finnish news headlines often use 'täysi työ' to describe police actions or government negotiations, emphasizing the intensity of the situation.
Use with Infinitives
Always pair it with a verb in the basic form to explain WHAT is difficult.
Adessive Case
Remember: Minulla, Sinulla, Hänellä. Never use 'Minä olen täysi työ'.
Meaning
Something requiring much effort.
Use with Infinitives
Always pair it with a verb in the basic form to explain WHAT is difficult.
Adessive Case
Remember: Minulla, Sinulla, Hänellä. Never use 'Minä olen täysi työ'.
Spoken Finnish
Say 'Oli täys työ' to sound more like a native speaker in casual conversation.
Modesty
Use this phrase to explain why you couldn't do something else; it sounds more valid than just saying you were 'busy'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word in the correct form.
Minulla ___ täysi työ ehtiä bussiin aamulla.
Since the context implies a past event ('aamulla' - this morning), 'oli' is the most natural choice.
Which sentence is correct?
How do you say 'She has her hands full with the project'?
The adessive case 'Hänellä' is required for the 'to have' structure in Finnish.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Autatko minua siivoamaan? B: Anteeksi, en voi. Minulla on ___ ___ saada omat läksyni valmiiksi.
'Täysi työ' fits the idiom for struggling with a task.
Match the situation to the sentence.
Situation: A mother trying to dress three toddlers.
This correctly uses the idiom to describe the struggle of the action.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMinulla ___ täysi työ ehtiä bussiin aamulla.
Since the context implies a past event ('aamulla' - this morning), 'oli' is the most natural choice.
How do you say 'She has her hands full with the project'?
The adessive case 'Hänellä' is required for the 'to have' structure in Finnish.
A: Autatko minua siivoamaan? B: Anteeksi, en voi. Minulla on ___ ___ saada omat läksyni valmiiksi.
'Täysi työ' fits the idiom for struggling with a task.
Situation: A mother trying to dress three toddlers.
This correctly uses the idiom to describe the struggle of the action.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, you can say 'Lapset ovat täysi työ' (Children are a full job), meaning they require constant attention.
Usually, yes, it implies a struggle, but it can be used neutrally to describe a demanding but rewarding task.
'Kova työ' is 'hard work' in a general sense. 'Täysi työ' implies you are at your limit.
Yes: 'Siinä tulee olemaan täysi työ' (It will be a struggle).
No, it is a standard idiom used in all levels of Finnish.
No, that is not an idiom. You would say 'helppo nakki' for something easy.
Not always. You can say 'Siinä oli täysi työ' (There was a full work in that).
Only if the object 'is' the work, like 'Tämä auto on täysi työ' (This car is a lot of work to maintain).
Yes, very common in journalism and literature.
The best translation is 'Minulla oli täysi työ'.
Related Phrases
tehdä täyttä päivää
similarTo work a full day
olla kiven alla
contrastTo be hard to find
hiki hatussa
similarWith sweat in one's hat
pää kolmantena jalkana
similarHead as a third leg
