Aistitaan

Aistitaan is a Finnish verb form that serves as the present tense passive of the verb meaning to sense or perceive. It is used to describe perception or observation without naming a specific agent, producing an impersonal or objective tone. The construction is common in descriptive, analytical, and formal writing, where the emphasis lies on what is perceived rather than who perceives it.

In practice, aistitaan can introduce sensory, perceptual, or observable phenomena. It often appears in scientific, journalistic, or official texts to convey findings or phenomena in a neutral way. For example, a sentence like “Aistitaan, että lämpötila nousee” translates to “It is perceived that the temperature is rising.” Other examples include “Keskustelussa aistitaan jännitteitä” (Tensions are felt in the discussion) and “Raportissa aistitaan ilmiön vaikutuksia ympäristöön” (The report notes the environmental effects of the phenomenon).

Morphologically, the form comes from the root indicating sense or perception plus the Finnish passive present suffix -taan. The subject is generally indefinite, and the verb does not specify who perceives; this makes it suitable for generalized statements, summaries, and aim-focused reporting. Aistitaan is often contrasted with more agentive expressions such as havaitaan (is perceived) or koetaan (is experienced), depending on the nuance desired.

Related terms include havaita (to perceive), kokea (to experience), and koetaa (to attempt in certain contexts). Aistitaan is particularly valued for its ability to frame observations in a neutral, deductive register without attributing perception to a particular person or group.