Correlative inclusion (niin ... kuin ... -kin)

"Both... and..." with "niin ... kuin ... -kin"

In formal written Finnish, such as regional guides or national park brochures, the structure niin ... kuin ... -kin means "both ... and" or "as well as."

The structure wraps around the two items you are linking:

  • niin comes before the first item.
  • kuin comes before the second item.
  • -kin (meaning "also") attaches to the very end of the second item.

If the linked words are in a specific grammatical case, the -kin suffix must be added after the case ending.

The national park is a perfect destination for both tourists and locals.
Kansallispuisto on täydellinen kohde niin turisteille kuin paikallisillekin.
Lush vegetation interests both hikers and researchers.
Rehevä kasvillisuus kiinnostaa niin vaeltajia kuin tutkijoitakin.

Linking Adjectives

This correlative structure is not just for noun phrases. You can also link adjectives to emphasize that a place possesses two distinct qualities simultaneously.

The ridge is both long and steep.
Harju on niin pitkä kuin jyrkkäkin.
The vegetation of the ridge is both beautiful and rare.
Harjun kasvillisuus on niin kaunista kuin harvinaistakin.

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