Comparing "shihe" and "heshi"

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.

适合

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

Structure

Subject + 适合 + Object

Examples

• 这 个 工作 很 适合 我。This job really suits me.
• 你 的 中文 名字 真 适合 你！Your Chinese name suits you well.
• 这 部 电影 不 适合 儿童 看。This movie does not suit a young audience.

合适

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

Examples

• iPad 虽然 好 用，但是 对 我 来 说 价格 不 太 合适！Although iPads are fun to use, I think the price is not suitable.
• 在 办公室 里 抽烟 有 点 不 合适 吧。Inside the office, smoking is not suitable.
• 他 就是 最 合适 的，他 完全 符合 我们 的 招聘 要求。He is very suitable. He completely matches the advertised demands.

We cannot say:

• 这 个 合适 我
• 那样 很 适合

Example dialog

• A：你 知道 穿 什么 衣服 最 适合 参加 这 个 聚会 吗？Do you know what kind of clothes would suit this party?
• B：我 不 知道。但是 穿 牛仔裤 一定 不 合适。I don't know, but wearing jeans is definitely not suitable.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 273-4) →buy