rikkoutuvia

Rikkoutuvia is a Finnish term used as an adjective to describe objects that are prone to breaking or are easily damaged. It functions as the partitive plural form of the present active participle rikkoutuva, which is derived from the verb rikkoutua (to break or become broken). The construction is common in contexts such as product labeling, handling instructions, packaging, and safety notices, where it is important to indicate fragility.

Linguistic notes:

Rikkoutuvia is attributed to adjectives formed from participles. In Finnish, the -va/-vä suffix creates a present active participle, which can modify nouns and, when declined, appear in various cases. The form rikkoutuvia specifically marks a plural, partitive usage, as in rikkoutuvia esineitä (“fragile/breakable items”). The nuance conveyed is that the items are fragile or damage-prone, rather than describing an action performed by the items.

Usage and nuance:

The term emphasizes vulnerability and the need for careful handling. Depending on context, it can translate as “fragile,” “breakable,” or “prone to breaking.” It is frequently paired with nouns denoting objects or materials (for example, esineitä, astioita, osia) to alert handlers to avoid impact, moisture, or rough handling.

Examples:

- Rikkoutuvia astioita tulee käsitellä varoen. (Fragile dishes should be handled with care.)

- Laatikossa on rikkoutuvia osia, joten sitä ei saa pudottaa. (The box contains breakable parts, so it must not be dropped.)

See also: rikkoutua, Finnish participles, Finnish adjectives, partitive construction.