tune, tone, meter, key (music)

About this kanji

The kanji 調 (ちょう) primarily means to tune or to adjust, and is often used in contexts related to music and styles of writing. It can function as a verb with kun'yomi readings such as しら.べる (to investigate) and ととの.える (to arrange). You will also find it in compounds like 基調 (きちょう), meaning basic tone, 協調 (きょうちょう), which means cooperation, and 口調 (くちょう), referring to tone of voice. A notable usage note is that 調 is used not just for musical settings but also in everyday situations to indicate adjustments or harmonizing elements, making it quite versatile in conversation.

Example sentences

• 言語調査が始まった。

  The language survey has begun.

Meanings across languages

English

tune, tone, meter, key (music), writing style, prepare, exorcise, investigate, harmonize, mediate

Tiếng Việt

điều chỉnh, âm điệu, thước đo, khóa, phong cách viết, chuẩn bị

日本語

調和, 調整, 準備

한국어

조정, 조화시키다, 조사하다

中文

调和, 调节, 调查

id

melodi, nada, ukur, kunci, gaya tulisan, menyiapkan, mengusir, menyelidiki, mengharmonisasikan, memediasi

th

ทำนอง, เสียง, จังหวะ, คีย์, สไตล์การเขียน, เตรียม, ขับไล่, ตรวจสอบ, ทำให้กลมกลืน, ไกล่เกลี่ย

es

melodía, tono, métrica, clave, estilo de escritura, preparar, exorcizar, investigar, armonizar, mediar

fr

mélodie, ton, mesure, clé, style d'écriture, préparer, exorciser, investiguer, harmoniser, médiation

de

Melodie, Ton, Meter, Tonart, Schreibstil, vorbereiten, austreiben, untersuchen, harmonisieren, vermitteln

pt

melodia, tom, métrica, tom, estilo de escrita, preparar, exorcizar, investigar, harmonizar, mediar

Common compounds

• 基調きちょうbasic tone, underlying tone, basic theme
• 協調きょうちょうcooperation, conciliation, harmony
• 口調くちょうtone (of voice), manner of talking
• 好調こうちょうfavourable, favorable, promising
• 順調じゅんちょうfavourable, favorable, doing well
• 体調たいちょうphysical condition, state of health, shape
• 調べしらべinvestigation, inspection, examination
• 調印ちょういんsignature, signing, sealing