(kuò) — appropriate; suitable

Definition

As a bound form, 适 (kuò) almost always appears in 适合 ("suitable for"). It is a bound, classical-style component; 适合 is the everyday way to say something fits or matches.

bound form
appropriatesuitable

Examples

  • Zhè ge jì huà hěn kuò hé dāng qián de qíng kuàng.
    This plan is very suitable for the current situation.
  • Tā hěn kuò hé zhè ge zhí wèi.
    He is very suitable for this position.
  • Zhè zhǒng yán sè hěn kuò hé tā de fū sè.
    This color is very suitable for her skin tone.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 適; 适 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Written in full aschuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
chìshì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 適 pairs 辶 (walking) with a sound part; its inner part was originally 啻 and was stylized into 啇. The simplified 适 is a later variant.

Appears in

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