kendimizdeki

Kendimizdeki is a Turkish attributive form meaning “the X within ourselves” or “the internal X we have.” It is built from kendimiz (ourselves) + de (in/inside) + ki (a relative suffix that turns a noun into a modifier). The result is used before a following noun to indicate that the noun refers to something located or existing inside us.

In usage, kendimizdeki is commonly found in literary, philosophical, and motivational discourse, as well as in everyday self-reflection. Examples include kendimizdeki güç (the power within us), kendimizdeki korkuyu yenmek (to overcome the fear within ourselves), and kendimizdeki potansiyeli ortaya çıkarmak (to reveal the potential inside us). The construction emphasizes internal, personal qualities or states that belong to the speaker or a defined group.

Compared with related expressions, kendimizdeki often carries a more explicit sense of ownership and inward focus than içimizdeki (the thing inside us) or içsel (internal, pertaining to the inner self). It can convey a stance oriented toward self-improvement, self-awareness, or moral reflection, rather than external circumstances. In Turkish stylistics, kendimizdeki is a flexible tool for drawing attention to internal resources or obstacles.

See also: kendimiz, içimizdeki, içsel, Turkish syntax of ki suffix.