Difference between 合适、适合、适宜

[jbiesnecker]

Can someone explain the difference in usage between these three? They all have meanings of something like "suitable," and I'm decently capable of using the correct one when I speak/write, but I was just asked by a friend of mine and I have no idea what the real differences are

[bilicon]

Difference between 合适、适合、适宜

Well, these three words really hard to tell the difference.

I give you some examples. Maybe it will help you to understand it.

you can say: 你穿这件衣服很合适。

but you can't say: 你很合适穿这身衣服

it usually say that: 你很适合穿这件衣服。

In other words 合适 is a v.i.(intransitive verb) while 适合 is a v.t.(transitive verb)

And 适合 and 适宜 are very similar but have a little different.

We usually use 今天适宜去郊游。

but if you use 今天适和去郊游。is not quite good, but isn't wrong i think.

Maybe it's customarily use 适宜 here.

And I don't know if i can help you or not. But i suggest you buy a chinese dictionary to find the difference.

good luck.

[[欧阳江]]

合适：is an adjective

适合：is a verb

hence it's:

你这样说不合适 when used as an adjective

and

他适合当教师 when used as a verb.

[Eunice P]

Correct me if I'm wrong since my English isn't really good. From my perspective, the meaning may probably go something like this.

合适：goes well together

The shirt goes well (together) with her body size. (Odd way to put it, but that's usually how Chinese say it.)

适合：suitable

This place is suitable for me to stay.

适宜 : the right condition/time

This earth is the right condition for the plants.

[xiayule]

适合　and　合适 sometimes can be replaced each other.

for example

chinese people says : 他们俩非常　适合／合适，they match each other perfectly.most of chinese people will not care the tiny differences

[owen]

合适：goes well together

The shirt goes well (together) with her body size. (Odd way to put it, but that's usually how Chinese say it.)

I think most english speakers would usually use 'goes well together' at the end of a sentence, or more to the point, after the two things the speaker is referring to have already been mentioned.

[SWWLiu]

Difference between 合适、适合、适宜:

Can someone explain the difference in usage between these three? They all have meanings of something like "suitable' date='" and I'm decently capable of using the correct one when I speak/write, but I was just asked by a friend of mine and I have no idea what the real differences are

[/quote']

Another way to tell the difference is to consider the following:

合适 (physically) well-fitting, proper

适合 compatible, appropriate

适宜 making a comfortable and good fit, making everyone happy