適

音読おんよみ: テキ

訓読くんよみ: かなう

画数かくすう: 14 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 辶(しんにょう)

Meaning

Suitable, fit, appropriate, match — used in words like suitable, adaptation, and comfortable.


  • 適当てきとう — suitable, appropriate
  • 適応てきおう — adaptation, compliance
  • 快適かいてき — comfortable
  • 適切てきせつ — appropriate, proper
  • 適性てきせい — aptitude
  • 不適ふてき — unsuitable

The left part of 適 includes 舌 (tongue), and the right radical 辶 represents movement. Together, they suggest “moving toward a suitable direction” or “matching what fits.” It's used both literally and metaphorically for fit, comfort, and suitability.

このくつわたしてきしています。
These shoes are a good fit for me.

かれあたらしい 環境かんきょう適応てきおうできる 能力のうりょくがあります。
He has the ability to adapt to new environments.

The on-yomi テキ is commonly used in compound words. The kun-yomi かなう is rare and mainly found in older or poetic usage.

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