合适合適 héshì — suitable, appropriate, the right fit
héshì (second tone, rising)he2shi4
Traditional: 合適
suitable, appropriate, the right fit
HSK 4· HSK 1–4 (classic)adjective
Meanings
suitable, appropriate, the right fit
合, to fit together, and 适, to suit — what matches its purpose exactly, neither too much nor too little. It is said of clothes, times, jobs, words: 这个词用得很合适, that is exactly the right word.
adjective
Example sentences
- 这件衣服不合适，太小了。這件衣服不合適，太小了。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) jiàn (fourth tone, falling) yīfu (first tone, high and level) bù (fourth tone, falling) héshì, (second tone, rising) tài (fourth tone, falling) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) le. (neutral tone)···
These clothes don’t fit — they’re too small.
- 这个时间不合适，我们下个星期再见面吧。這個時間不合適，我們下個星期再見面吧。Zhège (fourth tone, falling) shíjiān (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) héshì, (second tone, rising) wǒmen (third tone, dipping) xià (fourth tone, falling) ge (neutral tone) xīngqī (first tone, high and level) zài (fourth tone, falling) jiànmiàn (fourth tone, falling) ba. (neutral tone)···
This time doesn’t work — let’s meet again next week.
Common mistakes
Not quite这件衣服合适我。
Correct这件衣服很合适。／这件衣服适合我。
合适 is an adjective — it describes, and cannot take an object. The verb that reaches out to a person is 适合, the same two characters reversed: 这件衣服适合我.