对路 (duì lù) — to suit; to be to one's liking; to satisfy a ne…

Definition

对路 (duì lù) is a colloquial expression meaning 'suits one, fits the need' — used for a job, solution, or approach that matches what someone wants or requires.

to suitto be to one's likingto satisfy a need

Examples

对路，。
Zhè ge gōng zuò hěn duì lù, wǒ tè bié xǐ huan.
This job suits me well; I especially like it.
，。
Zhè dào cài bú duì wǒ de lù, tài là le.
This dish isn't to my taste — it's too spicy.
对路。
Nǐ xū yào zhǎo yí gè duì lù de jiě jué fāng àn.
You need to find a solution that fits the need.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

对duìmatch

路lùroad

对 means match and 路 means road; matching the road means being suitable.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

丵丵zhuótool for digging
土土tǔearth
又又yòuhand

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

足足zú

Sound part声符shēngfú

各

各gè路lù

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

Appears in

Attitudes & Opinions