适 (shì): suitable
适 (shì) is a Chinese character meaning “suitable.” Classified as HSK Level 3 (HSK 3.0 Standard, CLEC 2022), it is composed of 辶 (semantic) and 舌 (phonetic). It ranks #663 in character frequency (SUBTLEX-CH corpus).
Etymologically derived, 适 walk. Its radical form 辶 (walk) appears in many related characters such as 边 (biān, side), 过 (guò, to pass, past), 还 (hái, still, return).
Definitions
- suitable
Etymology & Origin
Stroke Order
Practice writing 适 with real-time feedback — trace each stroke in the correct order and build muscle memory in the HanziFeed app.
Words & Compounds
HSK Vocabulary with 适
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 适合verb | shì hé | to fit | 4 |
| 合适adjective | hé shì | suitable | 3 |
| 适应verb | shì yìng | to adapt | 4 |
| 舒适adjective | shū shì | cozy | 5 |
| 适当adjective | shì dàng | suitable | 5 |
| 适用adjective | shì yòng | to be applicable | 5 |
| 不适adjective | bù shì | unwell | 6 |
| 适宜adjective | shì yí | suitable | 6 |
| 适度adjective | shì dù | moderately | 6 |
Common Compounds
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 适可而止 | shì kě ér zhǐ | (idiom) to refrain from going too far |
| 适时 | shì shí | timely |
| 适者生存 | shì zhě shēng cún | survival of the fittest |
| 无所适从 | wú suǒ shì cóng | not knowing which course to follow (idiom) |
| 适得其反 | shì dé qí fǎn | to produce the opposite of the desired result |
| 适应性 | shì yìng xìng | adaptability |
| 适中 | shì zhōng | moderate |
| 适量 | shì liàng | appropriate amount |
| 适配器 | shì pèi qì | adapter (device) |
| 闲适 | xián shì | leisurely and comfortable |
| 适意 | shì yì | agreeable |
| 适逢 | shì féng | to just happen to coincide with |
| 适龄 | shì líng | of age |
| 安适 | ān shì | quiet and comfortable |
| 适销 | shì xiāo | marketable |
适 appears in 57 compound words: 60 as the first character, 26 as the last, and 14 in a middle position. Compound statistics computed from SUBTLEX-CH and HSK 3.0 vocabulary data.
Strongest Collocations
Characters that most frequently co-occur with 适 in natural Chinese text, ranked by NPMI (Normalized Pointwise Mutual Information) — a statistical measure of association strength.
Idioms & Chengyu (7)
to run counter to one's desire; to have the exact opposite effect of what one wished; to backfire
to run counter to one's desire; to have the exact opposite effect of what one wished; to backfire
Example Sentences
这个方案很适合我们的情况，可以采纳。
Zhè gè fāng'àn hěn shìhé wǒmen de qíngkuàng, kěyǐ cǎinà.
This plan is very suitable for our situation and can be adopted.
日本m码欧洲m码怎么选合适?这份选码攻略请收好
rì běn mǎ ōu zhōu mǎ zěn má xuǎn gě shì ? zhè fèn xuǎn mǎ gōng lüè qǐng shōu hǎo
How to Choose Between Japanese M Size and European M Size? Keep This Size Guide Handy
...本一码二码三码的穿着建议?选对尺码穿出舒适感
. . . běn yī mǎ èr mǎ sān mǎ de chuān zhe jiàn yì ? xuǎn duì chǐ mǎ chuān chū shū shì gǎn
...What are the sizing recommendations for one-size, two-size, and three-size garments? Choose the right size for a comfortable fit.
...品推荐大全包括什么?每日碳水控制在多少合适
. . . pǐn tuī jiàn dà quán bāo kuò shén má ? měi rì tàn shuǐ kòng zhì zài duō shǎo gě shì
What does the comprehensive product recommendation guide include? What is the appropriate daily carbohydrate intake?
巴基斯坦空袭阿富汗境内 阿国防部:将作出适当回应
bā jī sī tǎn kōng xí ā fù hàn jìng nèi ā guó fáng bù jiāng zuò chū shì dāng huí yīng
Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan Afghan Defense Ministry: Will Respond Appropriately
初一忌扫地予适度宽容 倪可敏吁燃放烟花后自发清理
chū yī jì sǎo dì yú shì dù kuān róng 倪 kě mǐn xū rán fàng yān huā hòu zì fā qīng lǐ
First-day-of-the-year sweeping taboo calls for reasonable tolerance; Ni Kok Mun urges voluntary cleanup after fireworks display.
你认为他适合这个职位吗？
Nǐ rènwéi tā shìhé zhège zhíwèi ma?
Do you think he is good for the position?
你觉得说这种话合适吗？
Nǐ juéde shuō zhèzhǒng huà héshì ma?
Do you think it's appropriate to talk like that?
如果他年轻一点，他将很适合这个职位。
Rúguǒ tā niánqīng yīdiǎn, tā jiāng hěn shìhé zhège zhíwèi.
If he were a little younger, he would be eligible for the post.
有些植物无法适应寒冷。
Yǒuxiē zhíwù wúfǎ shìyìng hánlěng.
Some plants cannot adapt themselves to the cold.
Character Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 适 (shì) mean in Chinese?
What's the difference between 适 and 活?
How many strokes does 适 have?
What is the radical of 适?
What are the components of 适?
What are common words containing 适?
What characters sound the same as 适 (shì)?
Is 适 the same in simplified and traditional Chinese?
Practice writing 适 with real-time feedback
Trace stroke sequences, hear native pronunciation, and build lasting retention with spaced repetition in the HanziFeed app.