可 kě — can; may; able to; certain(ly); to suit; (particle used for emphasis)
这里的风景可真美。Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng kě zhēn měi.The scenery here is really beautiful.
Common words: 可以 (kě yǐ)、可能 (kě néng)、可是 (kě shì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to suit"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to suit", including 可 (kě), 适 (shì). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to suit" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 可 (kě), 适 (shì) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span kě, shì — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 可 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 可 kěcan; may; able to; certain(ly); to suit; (particle used for emphasis)Useful words: 可以, 可能
- 适 shìto fit; to suitUseful words: 合适, 适合
Common words for these 2 "to suit" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 可 (kě) — so "to suit" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "to suit".
适 shì — to fit; to suit
这件衣服的大小很合适。Zhè jiàn yī fu de dà xiǎo hěn hé shì.The size of this piece of clothing is just right.
Common words: 合适 (hé shì)、适合 (shì hé)、适应 (shì yìng)
All 2 characters
Open 可、适 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.