Difference between revisions of "Comparing "shihe" and "heshi""
 
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Mixing up the order of the two syllables in a word is something most learners do. This makes the pair 适合 (shìhé) and 合适 (héshì) annoying, to say the least. They mean more or less the same thing, but the former is a verb, while the latter is an adjective.
  
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Saying characters of words the wrong way round is something most learners do. This makes 合适(héshì) and 适合(shìhé) annoying to say the least. They mean more or less the same, but one is a verb and one is a adjective.
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==The Verb 适合==
  
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==适合==
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适合 is a verb meaning "to suit," and should take an object.
  
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适合 is a verb meaning "to suit", and must take an object.
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===Structure===
  
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===Structure===
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subject + 适合 + Object
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Subj. + 适合 + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* 这 个 工作 很 <em>适合</em> 我。<span class="trans">This job really suits me.</span>
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* 这 个 工作 很 <em>适合</em> 我。<span class="pinyin">Zhège gōngzuò hěn <em>shìhé</em> wǒ.</span><span class="trans">This job really suits me.</span>
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* 你 的 中文 名字 真 <em>适合</em> 你！<span class="trans">Your Chinese name suits you well.</span>
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* 你 的 中文 名字 真 <em>适合</em> 你！<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Zhōngwén míngzì zhēn <em>shìhé</em> nǐ!</span><span class="trans">Your Chinese name suits you well.</span>
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* 这 部 电影 不 <em>适合</em> 儿童 看。<span class="trans">This movie does not suit a young audience.</span>
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* 这 部 电影 不 <em>适合</em> 儿童 看。<span class="expl">This translation is a little awkward in English, but we're trying to avoid using the word "suitable," which is an adjective.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè bù diànyǐng bù <em>shìhé</em> értóng kàn.</span><span class="trans">This movie does not suit children (to watch).</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==合适==
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==The Adjective 合适==
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合适 is an adjective meaning "suitable" or "appropriate," and is used in the same way as other adjectives.
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===Structure===
  
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合适 is an adjective meaning "suitable or appropriate", and is used in the same way as other adjectives.
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + Adv. + 合适
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</div>
  
 
===Examples===
 
===Examples===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* iPad 虽然 好 用，但是 对 我 来 说 价格 不 太 <em>合适</em>！<span class="trans">Although iPads are fun to use, I think the price is not suitable.</span>
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* 在 办公室 里 抽烟 有 点 不 <em>合适</em> 吧。<span class="pinyin">Zài bàngōngshì lǐ chōuyān yǒudiǎn bù <em>héshì</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Inside the office, it's not really appropriate to smoke, right?</span>
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* 在 办公室 里 抽烟 有 点 不 <em>合适</em> 吧。<span class="trans">Inside the office, smoking is not suitable.</span>
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* 他 就是 最 <em>合适</em> 的，他 完全 符合 我们 的 招聘 要求。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiùshì zuì <em>héshì</em> de, tā wánquán fúhé wǒmen de zhāopìn yāoqiú.</span><span class="trans">He is just the most suitable. He totally fulfills our hiring requirements.</span>
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* 他 就是 最 <em>合适</em> 的，他 完全 符合 我们 的 招聘 要求。<span class="trans">He is very suitable. He completely matches the advertised demands.</span>
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* iPad 虽然 好 用，但是 对 我 来 说 价格 不 太 <em>合适</em>！<span class="pinyin">IPad suīrán hǎo yòng, dànshì duì wǒ lái shuō jiàgé bù tài <em>héshì</em>!</span><span class="trans">Although iPads are fun to use, the price is not so suitable for me.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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We cannot say:
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==Don't Confuse the Two==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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<li class="x">这 个  <em>合适</em> 我</li>
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<li class="x">这个 <em>合适</em> 我 。<span class="expl">This would be treating 合适 like a verb</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège  <em>héshì</em> wǒ.</span></li>
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<li class="x">这 个 鞋 码 很 <em>适合</em></li>
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<li class="o">这个 <em>适合</em> 我 。<span class="expl">适合 is a verb!</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège  <em>shìhé</em> wǒ.</span><span class="trans">This suits me.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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</div>
 
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We can say:
 
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<div class="liju">
 
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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<li class="o">这 个 <em>适合</em> 我</li>
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<li class="x">这 个 鞋码 很 <em>适合</em> 。<span class="expl">This would be treating 适合 like an adjective</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège xiémǎ hěn <em>shìhé</em>.</span></li>
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<li class="o">这 个 鞋 码 很 <em>合适</em></li>
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<li class="o">这 个 鞋码 很 <em>合适</em> 。<span class="expl">合适 is an adjective!</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège xiémǎ hěn <em>héshì</em>.</span><span class="trans">This shoe size fits you well.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Example dialog ==
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== Example Dialog ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*A：你 知道 穿 什么 衣服 最 <em>适合</em> 参加 这 个 聚会 吗？<span class="trans">Do you know what kind of clothes would suit this party?</span>
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<ul class="dialog">
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*B：我 不 知道。但是 穿 牛仔裤 一定 不 <em>合适</em>。<span class="trans">I don't know, but wearing jeans is definitely not suitable.</span>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 知道 穿 什么 衣服 最 <em>适合</em> 参加 这个 聚会 吗？<span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ zhīdào chuān shénme yīfu zuì <em>shìhé</em> cānjiā zhège jùhuì ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know what kind of clothes would be appropriate for this party?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 不 知道。但是 穿 牛仔裤 一定 不 <em>合适</em>。<span class="pinyin">B: Wǒ bù zhīdào. Dànshì chuān niúzǎikù yīdìng bù <em>héshì</em>.
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</span><span class="trans">I don't know, but wearing jeans is definitely not appropriate.</span></li>
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</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== See also ==
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|273-4}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 273-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
 
  
 
[[Category: grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category: grammar comparison]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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[[Category: Dialogs]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|适合|B2|适合 vs 合适|这 个 颜色 不 <em>适合</em> 他 ， 黑色 才 是 最 <em>合适</em> 的。|grammar point|ASGVDOXL}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|适合|B2|适合 vs 合适|这 个 颜色 不 <em>适合</em> 他 ， 黑色 才 是 最 <em>合适</em> 的。|grammar point|ASGVDOXL}}
 
{{Rel char|合适}}
 
{{Rel char|合适}}

Latest revision as of 09:48, 14 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki－适合.jpg

Mixing up the order of the two syllables in a word is something most learners do. This makes the pair 适合 (shìhé) and 合适 (héshì) annoying, to say the least. They mean more or less the same thing, but the former is a verb, while the latter is an adjective.

The Verb 适合

适合 is a verb meaning "to suit," and should take an object.

Structure

Subj. + 适合 + Obj.

Examples

  • 这 个 工作 很 适合 我。Zhège gōngzuò hěn shìhé wǒ.This job really suits me.
  • 你 的 中文 名字 真 适合 你！Nǐ de Zhōngwén míngzì zhēn shìhé nǐ!Your Chinese name suits you well.
  • 这 部 电影 不 适合 儿童 看。This translation is a little awkward in English, but we're trying to avoid using the word "suitable," which is an adjective.Zhè bù diànyǐng bù shìhé értóng kàn.This movie does not suit children (to watch).

The Adjective 合适

合适 is an adjective meaning "suitable" or "appropriate," and is used in the same way as other adjectives.

Structure

Subj. + Adv. + 合适

Examples

  • 在 办公室 里 抽烟 有 点 不 合适 吧。Zài bàngōngshì lǐ chōuyān yǒudiǎn bù héshì ba.Inside the office, it's not really appropriate to smoke, right?
  • 他 就是 最 合适 的，他 完全 符合 我们 的 招聘 要求。Tā jiùshì zuì héshì de, tā wánquán fúhé wǒmen de zhāopìn yāoqiú.He is just the most suitable. He totally fulfills our hiring requirements.
  • iPad 虽然 好 用，但是 对 我 来 说 价格 不 太 合适！IPad suīrán hǎo yòng, dànshì duì wǒ lái shuō jiàgé bù tài héshì!Although iPads are fun to use, the price is not so suitable for me.

Don't Confuse the Two

  • 这个 合适 我 。This would be treating 合适 like a verbZhège héshì wǒ.
  • 这个 适合 我 。适合 is a verb!Zhège shìhé wǒ.This suits me.
  • 这 个 鞋码 很 适合 。This would be treating 适合 like an adjectiveZhège xiémǎ hěn shìhé.
  • 这 个 鞋码 很 合适 。合适 is an adjective!Zhège xiémǎ hěn héshì.This shoe size fits you well.

Example Dialog

  • A:你 知道 穿 什么 衣服 最 适合 参加 这个 聚会 吗？A: Nǐ zhīdào chuān shénme yīfu zuì shìhé cānjiā zhège jùhuì ma?Do you know what kind of clothes would be appropriate for this party?
  • B:我 不 知道。但是 穿 牛仔裤 一定 不 合适。B: Wǒ bù zhīdào. Dànshì chuān niúzǎikù yīdìng bù héshì. I don't know, but wearing jeans is definitely not appropriate.

Sources and further reading

Books

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