How to use 适合；合适
A + 适合 + B; subject + 很 / 不 + 合适
适合 and 合适 both concern suitability, but they fit different structures. 适合 is a verb that connects something with the person, situation, or activity it suits. 合适 is an adjective that judges something as appropriate or suitable. The distinction is grammatical as well as lexical, so reversing the characters without changing the sentence can produce an unnatural result.
Put the relevant object or activity after 适合 when explaining who or what something suits. Use 合适 as a predicate with suitable degree wording, or before a noun with 的 when describing an appropriate item. Context may supply the standard for 合适, while 适合 often states that relationship explicitly through the following phrase.
Examples with pinyin and English
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 children (to watch).
在办公室里抽烟有点不合适吧。
Inside the office, it's not really appropriate to smoke, right?
What to remember
- Use 适合 with the person, purpose, or activity suited.
- Use 合适 as an adjective of suitability.
- Change the sentence structure when switching between them.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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