Chinese word

适应

Pronunciation

Pinyinshì yìng

Meaning

  • verbget used to

Example

孩子需要时间来适应幼儿园的生活。hái zi xū yào shí jiān lái shì yìng yòu ér yuán de shēng huó

Children need time to get used to life in kindergarten.

Illustration for 适应 (get used to)

More examples

他很快就适应了新的工作环境。tā hěn kuài jiù shì yìng le xīn de gōng zuò huán jìng

He quickly got used to the new work environment.

Core concept

Moving from an unfamiliar situation toward effective functioning by changing one's responses.

Common phrases

  • 适应环境shì yìng huán jìng

    get used to the environment

  • 适应生活节奏shì yìng shēng huó jié zòu

    get used to the pace of life

  • 适应变化shì yìng biàn huà

    adapt to change

Similar words

习惯xí guàn: Become used to a way of doing things or a state through repeated experience.
改变gǎi biàn: Make something different in nature, condition, or form.
适合shì hé: Be suitable for a purpose or meet particular conditions.

Definition in Chinese

在新的环境或情况下，经过一段时间，逐渐习惯并通过调整自己的行为或反应以符合环境或要求。zài xīn de huán jìng huò qíng kuàng xià jīng guò yí duàn shí jiān zhú jiàn xí guàn bìng tōng guò tiáo zhěng zì jǐ de xíng wéi huò fǎn yìng yǐ fú hé huán jìng huò yāo qiú

Word origin

In 适 (shì, "fit") + 应 (yìng, "respond"), the first character sets the goal of suitability and the second supplies the active response, giving the compound its adjustment meaning.

Usage tips

  • The person or group undergoing change is usually the subject, while the new condition follows the verb, making this pattern useful for describing entry into routines, settings, or social situations.

Other meanings

  • adaptverb
  • adjust toverb

Related words

  • 适应性shì yìng xìngadaptabilitynoun
  • 适应能力shì yìng néng lìability to adaptnoun

Word lists with this word