適する|てきするtekisuru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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- suru verb (irregular), intransitive verbto fit; to suit
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 適する(てきする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 適します(てきします) |
| Negative (nai) | 適しない(てきしない) |
| polite (masen) | 適しません(てきしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 適せず・適せぬ(てきせず・てきせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 適した(てきした) |
| polite (mashita) | 適しました(てきしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 適しなかった(てきしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 適しませんでした(てきしませんでした) |
| Te form | 適して(てきして) |
| Potential | 適できる(てきできる) |
| Passive | 適される(てきされる) |
| Causative | 適させる(てきさせる) |
| Causative passive | 適させられる(てきさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 適すれば(てきすれば) |
| tara | 適したら(てきしたら) |
| Volitional | 適しよう(てきしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 適しましょう(てきしましょう) |
| Imperative | 適しろ(てきしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym合うあうNeutralThe most common word in speech: to fit or match, as in 「サイズが合う」. Broadest in use, and the natural pick in casual conversation.
- Synonym適合てきごうWrittenWritten and formal: conforming to conditions or specifications, as in 「基準に適合する」. Carries a technical, official flavour.
- Synonym似合うにあうNeutralFor appearance: clothes, hairstyles or styles that look right on someone, as in 「この服が似合う」. About visual harmony, not fitness for a purpose.
- Synonym適うかなうNeutralFor meeting wishes, needs, standards or purposes, as in 「理にかなう」 or 「目的にかなう」. The focus is on satisfying what is required or hoped for.
- Synonym適すてきすWrittenAnother form of 「適する」 with exactly the same meaning; rarer and found mainly in written prose.
- RelatedはまるCasualColloquial: to fit into a space or turn out to be just right, as in 「役にはまる」; it also means getting hooked on something.
- Related一致いっちNeutralFor things matching exactly or people agreeing, as in 「意見が一致する」. The emphasis is on correspondence, not on suitability for a purpose.
- Related調和ちょうわNeutralFor harmony and balance between elements, as in 「色の調和」. Concerns how things blend as a whole rather than fitting a condition.
- Related妥当だとうWrittenFormal: a judgment or action that is proper and reasonable, as in 「妥当な判断」. Used for the soundness of decisions rather than fit.
- Related見合うみあうNeutralAbout being proportionate or balancing out, as in 「努力に見合う結果」. Stresses parity between two things, like results matching the effort made.
- RelatedそぐうWrittenWritten word, mostly used in the negative as 「そぐわない」 to say something is out of keeping or unbecoming.
- Antonym不適ふてきWrittenThe written antonym of 「適する」: unfit or inappropriate, as in 「不適な環境」.
Default to 「適する」 for fitting a purpose or condition; in everyday speech 「合う」 is the natural choice (「向く」 also works). Use 「似合う」 for looks, 「適合」 for meeting standards, 「見合う」 for being proportionate, and 「妥当」 for sound judgment.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


