適切(てきせつ)な

A formal and versatile na-adjective used across many contexts — business, medicine, education, law, and daily life. It implies that the choice or action is well-matched to the situation at hand. Often used in written language and formal speech.

The adverbial form 適切(てきせつ)に (appropriately) is equally common.

Common collocations

• 適切(てきせつ)な対応(たいおう): appropriate response
• 適切(てきせつ)な判断(はんだん): proper judgment
• 適切(てきせつ)な表現(ひょうげん): appropriate expression
• 適切(てきせつ)な処置(しょち): proper treatment/measures
• 適切(てきせつ)な時期(じき): the right time
• 適切(てきせつ)に対処(たいしょ)する: to deal with appropriately

Similar words

• 適当(てきとう)な: suitable; appropriate — can also mean "random" or "half-hearted" in colloquial use, making it ambiguous
• 妥当(だとう)な: reasonable; valid — emphasizes logical soundness rather than fitness for purpose
• 相応(そうおう)しい: befitting; worthy of — emphasizes matching in status or level
• 的確(てきかく)な: precise; accurate — emphasizes hitting the mark exactly