jäytää

Jäytää is a Finnish verb that primarily means to gnaw or to chew laboriously. It implies a persistent and often forceful action of wearing away something through biting. The word can be used in both literal and figurative senses.

Literally, jäytää describes the action of animals like rodents gnawing on objects such as wood, bones, or food. For example, a mouse might be described as jäytää puuta (gnawing wood). It can also refer to a person chewing something tough or difficult to eat.

Figuratively, jäytää can convey a sense of something causing persistent mental distress or worry, like a nagging thought or a deep-seated anxiety. In this context, it suggests something that "gnaws away" at one's peace of mind. For instance, one might say "huoli jäytää mieltä" (worry gnaws at the mind). The verb can also imply wearing down or eroding something over time through continuous effort or pressure.