lyhytnäköiseltä

Lyhytnäköinen (and its inflected forms, such as lyhytnäköiseltä) is a Finnish adjective meaning short-sighted. It is used in both literal and figurative senses: literally, to describe nearsightedness, and figuratively, to characterize decisions, plans, or viewpoints that fail to consider long-term consequences. In everyday language, lyhytnäköinen is a common label for policies, strategies, or attitudes deemed to be myopic or lacking foresight.

Etymology and form: the word is formed from lyhyt (short) and näköinen (seeing/vision), with the -inen suffix creating an adjective. Finnish inflection allows lyhytnäköinen to take numerous case forms; lyhytnäköiseltä, for example, appears in certain constructions where the adjective is in the ablative singular, often following verbs or prepositions that require that case. As with other Finnish adjectives, its form changes to match the noun it describes in number and case.

Usage and nuance: lyhytnäköinen is usually evaluative and carries a negative nuance, signaling a preference for short-term results over long-term benefits. It is commonly applied to political, economic, or organizational decisions, as well as to actions perceived as lacking strategic depth. The corresponding noun form is lyhytnäköisyys, meaning short-sightedness. Antonyms include pitkän aikavälin lähestymistapa, pitkäjänteinen, and kauaskantoinen, which emphasize long-term thinking and foresight.

See also: long-term perspective, short-sightedness, Finnish adjectives.