Verbs / 动词

HSK 4 适合 vs 符合

to suit (person/preference) vs to conform (rule/standard)

Comparison / 对比

适合 shìhé符合 fúhé
Object typePeople, situations, occasionsRules, standards, requirements, expectations
SenseSubjective fit / suitabilityObjective conformity / matching
Common collocates适合你 / 适合这个场合 / 适合学习符合规定 / 符合要求 / 符合标准 / 符合条件
Negation不适合 = doesn't suit不符合 = doesn't meet (formal sense)

Examples / 例句

适合: 这件衣服很适合你。
Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn shìhé nǐ.
This dress suits you well. (subjective fit)
符合: 你的回答不符合要求。
Nǐ de huídá bù fúhé yāoqiú.
Your answer doesn't meet the requirements. (objective standard)
Quick rule: 适合 = is a good match for someone or some situation (taste, preference, occasion). 符合 = matches an objective standard, rule, or expectation. If you can ask 'fits whom/what occasion?' → 适合. If you can ask 'meets what standard?' → 符合. HSK 4 frequently tests this in fill-in-the-blank questions.

Fill in the Blank / 填空练习

Type the correct word to complete each sentence. Press Enter or click Check.

这个礼物很他的口味。
夏天去海边旅游最
你的方案大家的期望。

Quick Quiz / 小测验

这份工作很他的兴趣。
Personal interest/preference → 适合. (We don't say 符合兴趣.)
他的条件完全公司的要求。
Meeting company requirements (objective standard) → 符合.
这个时间你吗?
Whether the time suits the listener (personal convenience) → 适合.

Real HSK 4 Test Questions Using 适合 or 符合 / 真题示例

2 actual HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test the 适合 vs 符合 distinction:

From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q74
74. 做生意时会遇到竞争带来的压力,但是大家的机会也是相同的。清楚地了解市场和顾客的需要,做一个符合市场发展需要的计划非常重要。做生意需要重视:
A 节约B 反对意见C 积累经验D 了解市场需求 ✓
From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q77
77. 大部分人每天晚上至少应该睡7个小时,但是这个标准并不适合每一个人,有些人即使只睡5个小时也很有精神。每天晚上睡7个小时适合:
A 儿童B 胖子C 所有人D 大部分人 ✓

适合 vs 符合 FAQ

Are 适合 and 符合 interchangeable in HSK 4?

No. Although 适合 (shìhé) and 符合 (fúhé) translate similarly into English, HSK 4 fill-in-the-blank and listening questions test exactly the distinction between them. 适合 = is a good match for someone or some situation (taste, preference, occasion).

How is 适合 vs 符合 tested in HSK 4?

Most often in HSK 4 阅读 (reading) Part 1 选词填空 (Q46-55), where you choose the correct word for a blank in a sentence. Also appears in 听力 (listening) where the speaker uses one but the printed answer paraphrases with the other. Master both 适合 and 符合 collocations to lock in these points.

What's the quickest way to remember 适合 vs 符合?

适合 = is a good match for someone or some situation (taste, preference, occasion). 符合 = matches an objective standard, rule, or expectation. If you can ask 'fits whom/what occasion?' → 适合. If you can ask 'meets what standard?' → 符合. HSK 4 frequently tests this in fill-in-the-blank questions. Practice 3-5 fill-in-blank questions in our HSK 4 mock exams to lock the distinction.

← 因为 vs 由于 All Confusable Words 表示 vs 表现 →

Use this HSK 4 distinction in real test conditions

⚡ Strategy
HSK 4 选词填空 (Q46-55) tips
📝 Patterns
100 essential HSK 4 sentences
🔧 Grammar
HSK 4 grammar guide (14 topics)
🎯 Practice
12 HSK 4 mock exams