kaunokirjallisen

Kaunokirjallinen is a Finnish adjective that denotes a relation to belles-lettres or high-quality literary writing. It describes language, styles, or works that emphasize artistic form, craft, and aesthetic refinement, as opposed to popular or genre-focused writing. In practice, kaunokirjallinen is used to qualify texts, expressions, or traditions as belonging to a refined literary tradition.

The term is often encountered in phrases such as kaunokirjallinen teos, kaunokirjallisen kielen käyttö, or kaunokirjallisen ilmaisutavan. The genitive singular form kaunokirjallisen appears when the adjective modifies a noun in the genitive, for example kaunokirjallisen teoksen arvo or kaunokirjallisen tyylin piirteet. Relatedly, kaunokirjallisuus refers to belles-lettres or highbrow literature, providing a broader noun counterpart to the adjective.

Etymology and scope: kaunokirjallinen derives from kaunokirjallisuus, the realm of refined literary art. The term signals a distinction from more popular or mass-market writing and is common in literary criticism, cultural discourse, and academic writing about literary form, style, and tradition.

See also: kaunokirjallisuus, kirjallisuus, proosa, kaunokirjailija.