One of my students asked me what is the difference between tekitou(適当) and tekisetsu(適切), so here is my answer to him! (I think it’s a brilliant question!)

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What is tekisetsu(適切)?

Tekisetsu(適切) is a Japanese な-adjective meaning ‘the most appropriate’ or ‘the most suitable’

It also means suitable, good for, appropriate, proper for, timely, relevant, and adequate in Japanese-English dictionary.

Tekisetsu(適切) is used in words like,
適切な質問
Tekisetsu na shitsumon
a relevant question

不適切な発言
Futekisetsu na hatsugen
an improper remark
*fu(不) is like an English prefix ‘un’

適切な引用
Tekisetsu na inyou
a suitable quotation

What is tekitou(適当)?

Tekitou(適当) is also a Japanese な-adjective meaning ‘reasonable’, ‘the most reasonable’

But unlike tekisetsu(適切), tekitou(適当) is a flexible and interchangeable option, it is not a suitable option, it’s a reasonable option.

適当な条件で
Tekitou na jyouken de
on fair(reasonable) terms

Tekitou(適当) can mean another thing!

Tekitou becomes a Japanese slang among young Japanese people, sometimes it is written with Katakana as テキトー(read as tekitoo) meaning irresponsible, sloppy, roughly, carelessly.

お母さんにお手伝いを頼まれたけどテキトーにしちゃおう。🧹
Okaasan ni o-tetsudai wo tanomareta kedo tekitoo ni shichaou.
My mom asked me to help her but I’ll just give a quick help. (like a very sloppy help!)

適当な人
Tekitou na hito
an irresponsible person

適当に選んでください。
Tekitou ni erande kudasai.
Please pick up whatever suits you.