• MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    8 days ago

    Very loose. The finnish equivalent for those words would be “karhumainen”. I’m not sure there is a single-word translation for the “-kainen” suffix.

    It doesn’t really work the same way “-mainen” does, it’s similar, but results in a word that has a more definite meaning.

    “Lapsimainen” would mean childlike or childish, while “lapsukainen” only ever refers to an actual child in an endeared way (or if used to describe an adult, would be like saying “my sweet summer child” in english).

    • MacStache@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      7 days ago

      The Finnish suffix “-kainen” is used to create nouns that refer to things or beings associated with a particular quality or characteristic. Even though we don’t necessarily mentally associate it with a similar meaning as “-mainen”, it still is. Hence the translation of “bearlike” is close enough.

      • MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        7 days ago

        Close enough, but not closest. I would say “Bearie” is closer. You wouldn’t call an actual bear “bearlike” but you might name it “Bearie”.

        I didn’t say “mainen” and “kainen” are dissimilar, but they ARE different. By about the same amount as the difference between doglike/doggy and doggie.