适合 (shì hé) — to suit, to be suitable for

Definition

适合 is used when a person or thing matches what is needed or wanted (a job, outfit, or environment). Less specific than 适应 ('to adapt to'); different from 对, which means 'correct/right'.

verb

to suitto be suitable for

Examples

适合。
Zhè jiàn yī fu hěn shì hé nǐ.
This outfit suits you very well.
。
Zhè ge gōng zuò bú shì hé tā.
This job is not suitable for him.
适合。
Zhè ge yán sè hěn shì hé nǐ de pí fū.
This color suits your skin very well.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

适shìfit

合hématch

适 and 合 both mean fit or match, so together they express suiting or fitting.

Characters in this word

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

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

啻

啻chì適shì

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.

Open 适 →

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

亼口合