Kiusaus

Kiusaus is a Finnish noun meaning temptation or enticement toward wrongdoing, especially in moral or religious contexts. It is formed from the verb kiusata, meaning to tease, bother, or induce, with the noun suffix -us, a common Finnish pattern for abstract states. The term is used to describe an external or internal influence that tests a person's resolve, often implying a moral dimension.

In theology and ethics, kiusaus denotes the force or circumstance that tempts a person to commit a sin or unethical act. It is commonly contrasted with virtue and self-control, and discussions around kiusaus may address how individuals recognize or resist it, and what constitutes overcoming kiusaus. In secular language, kiusaus can refer to any strong impulse or lure that one must resist, such as greed, deceit, or addiction, depending on context.

In Finnish literature and public discourse, kiusaus appears in discussions of character, virtue, and moral choice, and is sometimes used in a proverbial sense, as in the idea that humans face kiusaus in daily life. While kiusaus is a formal or literary term in everyday speech, it remains familiar to speakers as a way to articulate moral struggle.

See also: temptation, moral psychology, rhetoric. References: standard Finnish dictionaries and theological texts.