Johdatetaan

Johdatetaan is a Finnish verb form that functions as the present passive of the verb johdattaa, meaning to lead or guide. In this form, the action is described without specifying the agent, focusing on the process of guiding or directing something or someone. The passive can refer to physical guiding as well as more abstract guidance through instructions, procedures, or decisions.

In Finnish, passive forms are common in formal writing, instructions, journalism, and general descriptions where the actor is unknown or unimportant. The form johdatetaan translates roughly as “is guided” or “are guided.” The corresponding past passive is johdatettiin, and the perfect passive is on johdatettu, meaning “has been guided.” The verb belongs to the group of Finnish verbs that use a passive construction to present processes, instructions, or events without naming who performs them.

Usage and nuance: johdatetaan emphasizes the guidance or direction being provided rather than the person giving it. It can be used for both concrete navigation and more abstract guidance through a program, procedure, or analysis. It is common in instructional or descriptive texts, such as museum captions, user manuals, or policy descriptions.

Examples:

- Käyttäjät johdatetaan ohjelman läpi. (Users are guided through the program.)

- Vieraat johdatetaan opastajan toimesta museossa. (Visitors are guided in the museum by the guide.)

Related terms include johtaa (to lead), ohjata (to direct), and opastaa (to guide or show the way). Johdatetaan thus serves as a neutral, formal way to describe guided actions without specifying the agent.