Suojautuakseen

Suojautuakseen is a non-finite verb form of the Finnish verb suojautua, meaning to protect oneself or shield oneself. It is used to express purpose, roughly translating to “in order to protect oneself.” The form is created with the stem suojautu- plus the suffix -akseen, and it typically appears in clauses that indicate the aim of the action described by the main verb.

In practice, suojautuakseen connects actions to their protective purpose. For example: Hän pukeutui lämpimästi suojautuakseen kylmältä (He dressed warmly to protect himself from the cold). Another example: Hän otti sateenvarjon suojautuakseen sateelta (He took an umbrella to protect himself from the rain). These uses show how the form functions similarly to infinitive constructions of purpose in other languages.

Usage notes: suojautuakseen is most common in written Finnish, especially in formal, instructional, or descriptive contexts. It appears less frequently in everyday spoken language, where simpler phrasing is more common. The form is part of a broader set of -akseen/-akseen forms used to express purpose with finite verbs, as in rakentaakseen (in order to build) or oppiakseen (to learn). While not essential in all contexts, suojautuakseen provides a concise, elegant way to indicate protective intent in non-finite clauses.