适合 vs 合适 (to suit vs suitable)
The verb, the adjective, and the fit
- Both mean "suitable" — but one's a verb, one's an adjective.
- to fit适合 = "to suit (something)" — a verb, takes an object.
- suitable合适 = "suitable / fitting" — an adjective, no object.
to fit适合 = to suit (verb + object)
- this这个to work工作very很to fit适合you你 = "this job suits you well."
this这(measure word)个job工作suit适合you你。
- this这个to work工作to fit适合you你 = "this job suits you."
Practice
This job suits you: 这个工作很 ____ 你。
适合 + object: 适合你 (suits you).
suitable合适 = suitable (adjective, no object)
- this这个price价格very很suitable合适 = "this price is just right." (not suitable合适you你)
this这(measure word)个price价格very很suitable合适。
- this这个price价格very很suitable合适 = "this price is reasonable."
Explore
Which word completes the sentence?
适合 is a verb that takes an object; 合适 is an adjective that stands alone.
Practice
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).
Practice
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).
Recap
Key idea
- to fit适合 = to suit (verb): to fit适合you你, to fit适合this这个to work工作
- suitable合适 = suitable (adjective, no object): very很suitable合适
- Say to fit适合you你, but to / towards / correct对you你very很suitable合适 (not suitable合适you你)
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Comparing similar functions.