适合 vs 合适 (to suit vs suitable)
IntroducedUse the object with the right suitable-word
- A job suits someone's abilities.
- this这个job工作suit适合you你。 — suit适合 takes you你 as its object in the suitability relation.
A job suits someone's abilities. What does 这个工作适合你。 communicate?
适合 takes 你 as its object in the suitability relation. 合适 instead functions as an adjective, as in 对你很合适. Shared meaning does not allow the same word order everywhere.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is suit适合 vs suitable合适 (to suit vs suitable). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
this这(measure word)个job工作suit适合you你。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: This job suits you: 这个工作很 ____ 你。
适合 + object: 适合你 (suits you).
Read examples in context
this这(measure word)个price价格very很suitable合适。
- In the opening example, this这个job工作suit适合you你。: suit适合 takes you你 as its object in the suitability relation.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which is a VERB that takes an object (适合你)?
适合 + object (适合你); 合适 is an adjective (很合适).
Know the boundary
- suitable合适 instead functions as an adjective, as in to / towards / correct对you你very很suitable合适.
- Shared meaning does not allow the same word order everywhere.
You can say 合适你 to mean “suits you”.
No — 合适 takes no object. Say 适合你 (or 对你很合适).
In the opening situation: 适合 takes 你 as its object in the suitability relation.
合适 instead functions as an adjective, as in 对你很合适. Shared meaning does not allow the same word order everywhere. 适合 takes 你 as its object in the suitability relation.
Use the distinction
- suit适合 takes you你 as its object in the suitability relation.
- suitable合适 instead functions as an adjective, as in to / towards / correct对you你very很suitable合适. Shared meaning does not allow the same word order everywhere.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Comparing similar functions.
A job suits someone's abilities. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.