kärsimys

Kärsimys is a Finnish noun meaning suffering, distress, or pain. It denotes the experience of physical, emotional, or existential hurt and is used across everyday language as well as in religious, philosophical, and literary contexts. The word derives from the verb kärsiä, to suffer, with the suffix -mys forming a noun.

Different forms are commonly described under kärsimys: physical suffering such as illness or injury; emotional suffering including grief, anxiety, or loneliness; and existential or moral suffering related to questions of meaning, guilt, or hopelessness. The term can refer to both the subjective experience of pain and its social or ethical dimensions, including how others respond to or alleviate it.

In philosophy and religion, kärsimys is often discussed in relation to the problem of evil, the potential value or meaning of suffering, and the role of compassion. In literature and the arts, the concept is frequently used to study human vulnerability, resilience, and ethical concerns, as well as to critique social conditions that produce hardship.

Usage notes: kärsimys tends to carry a broad, sometimes somber connotation and is commonly used in discussions of health, psychology, ethics, theology, and culture. Related concepts in Finnish include related terms for pain or distress, while in broader discourse it aligns with the universal notion of suffering across languages.