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适宜 (shì yí) — suitable; appropriate

Definition

适宜 (shì yí) is a formal written word for 'suitable,' often paired with a purpose (适宜于/用于...). Compared with 合适 it sounds more literary and is more common in writing about conditions, materials, or timing.

adjective
suitableappropriate
Easily confused

Examples

  • 适宜。
    Zhè xiē tiáo jiàn fēi cháng shì yí zhòng zhí mǒu xiē shū cài.
    These conditions are very suitable for growing certain vegetables.
  • 适宜。
    Nǐ xū yào zhǎo yí gè shì yí de shí jī tí chū zhè ge jiàn yì.
    You need to find a suitable opportunity to make this suggestion.
  • 。
    Zhè zhǒng cái liào bú shì yí yòng yú cháo shī de huán jìng.
    This material is not suitable for use in damp environments.

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shìsuitable
宜yíappropriate

适 and 宜 both mean suitable or appropriate, so together they say something fits well.

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.

宜 shows 且, a sacrificial altar, with 多, two pieces of meat, depicting two pieces of meat placed on the altar.

Open 宜 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Good & Bad

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