适用

shìyòng

to be applicable

HSK 5

漢字分解

Meaning and Usage

The word 适用 (shìyòng) means "to apply" or "to be suitable for". It is commonly used to indicate that a rule, method, or condition fits or is relevant to a particular situation or group.

Common Contexts

  1. Legal or formal rules: 适用 often appears in contexts involving laws, regulations, or policies to specify their scope.
  2. Methods or techniques: It can describe whether a certain approach is appropriate for a problem or task.
  3. Contracts and agreements: Used to check if terms or clauses are relevant to current circumstances.

Collocations and Patterns

Usage Notes

适用 is more formal and often used in written or official contexts. It differs from similar words like 合适 (héshì), which means "suitable" but is more about personal preference or comfort. Avoid confusing 适用 with 使用 (shǐyòng), which means "to use" something physically.

When using 适用, the focus is on the appropriateness or relevance of rules, methods, or conditions rather than physical usage.

例文

这条规定适用于所有员工。

Zhè tiáo guīdìng shìyòng yú suǒyǒu yuángōng.

This rule applies to all employees.

这种方法不适用于复杂的问题。

Zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ bù shìyòng yú fùzá de wèntí.

This method is not suitable for complex problems.

请确认合同条款是否适用当前情况。

Qǐng quèrèn hétóng tiáokuǎn shìfǒu shìyòng dāngqián qíngkuàng.

Please confirm whether the contract terms apply to the current situation.