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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "suitable" with 适 (shì)

    Description & Modification

    Structure

    合 + 适 / 适合 + Object

    Explanation

    The character 适 (shì) means "suitable" or "fitting" and most commonly appears in the compound 合适 (héshì), meaning "appropriate" or "suitable." On its own, 适 is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese but appears in many formal compounds like 适合 (to suit) and 适当 (proper). Understanding 适 helps you recognize a whole family of related words.

    Examples

    • 这份工作很适合你的性格。

      zhè fèn gōngzuò hěn shìhé nǐ de xìnggé.

      This job suits your personality well.

    • 我们需要找一个适当的时间谈谈。

      wǒmen xūyào zhǎo yīgè shìdàng de shíjiān tántan.

      We need to find an appropriate time to talk.

    • 他终于找到了适合自己的学习方法。

      tā zhōngyú zhǎodào le shìhé zìjǐ de xuéxí fāngfǎ.

      He finally found a study method that suited him.

    Expressing "suitable" with 适 (shì) | Chinese Grammar