Tuntemuksella

Tuntemuksella is a Finnish noun phrase formed from tuntemus (feeling, sense, perception) and the instrumental suffix -lla, yielding tuntemuksella meaning “with a sense” or “with intuition.” The expression is used to describe actions or judgments guided by inner impressions rather than by external facts or formal criteria. In English, it is often rendered as “with intuition,” “by instinct,” or “on personal feeling.”

Usage and nuance

Tuntemuksella signals subjectivity and personal evaluation. It is common in discussions about decisions, artistic work, or interpersonal relations where a gut feeling or inner sense is emphasized. It is not a strict or standardized criterion; rather it conveys a personal stance or approach. The phrase can appear in everyday speech as well as in informal commentary, essays, or journalism to highlight non-quantifiable guidance.

Examples

Hän teki päätöksen tuntemuksellaan. (He made the decision on his intuition/feelings.)

Ehdotus hyväksyttiin tuntemuksella eikä pelkän laskelman perusteella. (The proposal was accepted on intuition rather than solely on calculations.)

Taiteilija eteni projektiin tuntemuksellaan, ei teknisillä mittareilla. (The artist advanced with their inner sense, not with technical metrics.)

Relation to other terms

Tuntemuksella is related to tuntemus (the sense itself), and is connected to concepts such as vaisto (instinct) and intuicio (intuition). While tuntemuksella emphasizes a personal, non-systematic basis for action, it is often contrasted with rational, evidence-based approaches in Finnish discourse.