adapt or adjust

[bosun]

Which one is right adapt or adjust in the following sentence?

I wonder if i can adjust myself(??) to a new country and culture or
I wonder if i can adpat myself( ??) to a new country.

 

[cyberpedant]

"I wonder if I can adjust to a new country and culture" sounds better to me.

 

[Lexiphile]

Insteresting. I would say exactly the opposite to Cyberped. I never adjust myself, except when it's uncomfortable to sit.
But I do adapt to new situations (sometimes).

 

[gasman]

I would be content with either usage; I adjusted my approach to everyday living when I immigrated, while adapting to the different way of life.

 

[bosun]

very confusing!! which one do I have to follow?

 

[Lexiphile]

It's simple, Bosun. You adjust other things, not yourself. As Gasman says, you can adjust your approach; or your trousers. You can also say, that someone has adjusted well to his new environment, but that would probably not be as usual as to say he adapted to the environment.
No one is going to shoot you you if you use them interchangeably -- we're trying to show you the subtle differences of common usage.

To be precise, adjust means to change or correct, usually incrementally.
Adapt means increase the degree to which you conform or fit in.