適 meaning and stroke order
Match, comfortable; just
How to write 適, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 14
Meaning of 適
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to fit
- suitable
- proper
- just (now)
- comfortable
- well
How 適 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Walk.
辶 gives the meaning and 啇 hints at the sound.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 適
適 is built from 辶 (walk) plus the sound part 啇. Picture yourself walking toward the spot that suits you, the place where you fit and feel comfortable.
適 is the traditional form; in mainland China you will mostly see the simplified 适 in words like 合适 (héshì) and 适合 (shìhé). It rarely stands alone in modern speech and usually appears inside compounds about fitting, adapting, or comfort. Example: 這件衣服很合適。(Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn héshì.) This piece of clothing fits well.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 合適 (héshì, an adjective: suitable) and 適合 (shìhé, a verb: to suit). You say 這個工作適合你 (this job suits you), not 這個工作合適你.
Common words with 適
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 合適 | héshì | suitable; fitting; appropriate | HSK 2 |
| 適合 | shìhé | to fit; to suit | HSK 3 |
| 適應 | shìyìng | to adapt; to fit | HSK 3 |
| 適用 | shìyòng | to be applicable | HSK 3 |
| 舒適 | shūshì | cozy; snug | HSK 4 |
| 適當 | shìdàng | suitable; appropriate | HSK 6 |
| 不適 | bùshì | unwell; indisposed | HSK 7-9 |
| 適宜 | shìyí | suitable; appropriate | HSK 7-9 |
| 適度 | shìdù | moderately; appropriate | HSK 7-9 |
| 適時 | shìshí | timely; apt to the occasion | HSK 7-9 |
| 適量 | shìliàng | appropriate amount | HSK 7-9 |
| 適可而止 | shìkě'érzhǐ | (idiom) to refrain from going too far; to know when to stop | |
| 適者生存 | shìzhěshēngcún | survival of the fittest |
Questions about 適
How many strokes are in 適?
適 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 適 mean?
適 (shì) means match, comfortable; just. A common word with it is 合适 (héshì), meaning "suitable; fitting; appropriate".
How do you pronounce 適?
適 is pronounced shì, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 適?
The radical of 適 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 適 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 適?
適 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 适, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 適應 and 適合?
適應 (shìyìng) means to adapt or get used to something, like 適應新環境 (adapt to a new environment). 適合 (shìhé) means something is a good match for someone, like 這本書適合孩子 (this book suits children).
Does 不適 mean the same as 不合適?
No. 不適 (bùshì) usually means feeling physically unwell, as in 身體不適. 不合適 (bù héshì) means not suitable or not a good fit.