宜 A 则 A，宜 B 则 B
A where A suits, B where B suits; whatever fits the place
Structure
宜 甲 则 甲 ， 宜 乙 则 乙 （， 宜 丙 则 丙）
What it means
Classical ‘A where A suits, B where B suits’: a list of choices, each fitted to local conditions; a compact way of spelling out 因地制宜 (1-1).
How it is built
宜 + one-syllable word + 则 + the same word, repeated two to four times: 宜农则农、宜林则林、宜游则游 (farming, forestry or tourism, wherever each suits).
When to use it
Policy documents, planning and official speeches. Short forms fill the slots (乔 for 乔木, 灌 for 灌木, 林, 草, 修, 拆). In speech say 适合种树就种树.
Watch out
Same short word in both slots: ✗宜林则草 ✗宜种植乔木则种植乔木 ✓宜乔则乔. It always offers more than one option, never a single fixed rule.
Examples
山区发展产业，要宜农则农、宜林则林、宜游则游。
In the mountains, industry should be farming where farming suits, forestry where forestry suits and tourism where tourism suits.
老城改造要宜修则修、宜拆则拆，不能一律推倒重建。
Renewing an old town means mending what should be mended and pulling down what should be pulled down; it cannot all be flattened and rebuilt.
处理生活垃圾，各地应当宜烧则烧、宜埋则埋。
In dealing with household rubbish, each place should burn it where burning suits and bury it where burial suits.
Learn this in Lesson 170 · HSK 7–9: 绿色长城 (The Green Great Wall)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →