CSJ Journals
[化学論文のための英語講座] 第19回：Adequate and Appropriate/ Sufficient and Suitable
(English version is here.)
以下の1から３の、3つの対の例文はほとんど意味が同じですが、ニュアンスが若干違います。
1a. A 500 mL flask is adequate for this purpose.
1b. A 500 mL flask is appropriate for this purpose.
2a. LAH is sufficient for this reduction.
2b. LAH is suitable for this reduction.
3a. Ethanol is an adequate solvent for this reaction.
3b. Ethanol is an appropriate solvent for this reaction.
「adequate」と「appropriate」はともに「適切」という意味ですが、前者は「適切だが、これ以下は不足」というニュアンスになり、後者は「その目的に丁度良い」というニュアンスになります。「sufficient」と「suitable」も同じ関係にあります。さらに1つの文章に2つの表現が入っている例文を見てみましょう。
4. As a solvent for many Grignard reactions, Et2O is adequate, but THF is generally more appropriate.
訳文：グリニャール反応の溶媒として、ジエチルエーテルは十分ですが、テトラヒドロフランはより適切です。
5. In this particular case, a trimethylsilyl group is sufficient as a protecting group, but a tris(isopropyl)silyl group is more suitable.
訳文：この特定のケースでは、トリメチルシリル基は保護基として十分ですが、トリスイソプロピルシリル基がさらに適切でしょう。
次回は「助動詞willについて」です。
Adequate and Appropriate/ Sufficient and Suitable
The three pairs of sentences below have largely the same meaning, but a slightly different nuance.
1a. A 500 mL flask is adequate for this purpose.
1b. A 500 mL flask is appropriate for this purpose.
2a. LAH is sufficient for this reduction.
2b. LAH is suitable for this reduction.
3a. Ethanol is an adequate solvent for this reaction.
3b. Ethanol is an appropriate solvent for this reaction.
Adequate and appropriate have similar meanings, but the former implies that anything less would be unsatisfactory, while the latter implies that it is ideally suited for the stated purpose. Sufficient and suitable have the same relationship. Let us look at a couple of examples that use both words in the same sentence.
4. As a solvent for many Grignard reactions, Et2O is adequate, but THF is generally more appropriate.
5. In this particular case, a trimethylsilyl group is sufficient as a protecting group, but a tris(isopropyl)silyl group is more suitable.
At next time, we will discuss the auxiliary verb will.