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調 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
調diàotune, melody, key; to transfer, to exchangex, 15 strokes, radical 言
diào(diao4) T4
  1. 1tune, melody, key; to transfer, to exchange
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March 24, 2026

調diào(diao4)

The character 調 (diào) primarily means 'tune' or 'melody' in the context of music. It also conveys the idea of 'to adjust' or 'to transfer,' often used in contexts like changing settings or exchanging items. This dual meaning makes it versatile in both artistic and practical conversations.

Strokes15Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, music plays a significant role in social gatherings and celebrations. 調 is often used when discussing traditional Chinese music, which emphasizes the importance of melody and harmony.

Memory Tip

Think of 調 (diào) as a music note adjusting its pitch. The left side, 語, relates to speech (talking about music), while the right side, 调, resembles a scale that one might adjust for the right tune. Imagine a musician tuning their instrument to find the perfect melody.

Meanings of 調

diào(diao4)
1tune, melody, key; to transfer, to exchange
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 調 means.

About 調

調Simplified
15Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 調

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Podcast: 調

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AI Study Notes for 調

Quick Contrast

調 (diào, tune/adjust) vs 音 (yīn, sound) — use 調 when emphasizing the action of tuning or adjusting, while 音 refers specifically to sound itself.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 調 with similar-sounding characters like 调 (tiáo), which means 'to adjust' in a different context. This word is mostly used in neutral or formal registers, especially in musical or technical contexts. Be cautious with tone; using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 調 is not currently included in the HSK levels, it is useful for advanced learners as it connects to vocabulary related to music (like 音樂 yīnyuè) and adjustments (like 調整 tiáozhěng). Focus on how it is used in various phrases, especially in musical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 調 (diào) with the character 调 (tiáo), which can lead to misunderstandings. Remember, diào relates to music and adjustments, while tiáo is more about 'to adjust' or 'to manage'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 調

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Etymology of 調

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 調. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

speech

Semantic (meaning)言
+
Phonetic (sound)周
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

調 = 言 + 周. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 調

IDS Structure⿰言周
調Full Character
=
言yan2
left
周Zhou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 調?

How to say tune, melody, key; to transfer, to exchange in Chinese

“tune, melody, key; to transfer, to exchange” in Chinese is調diào

The character 調 (diào) primarily means 'tune' or 'melody' in the context of music. It also conveys the idea of 'to adjust' or 'to transfer,' often used in contexts like changing settings or exchanging items. This dual meaning makes it versatile in both artistic and practical conversations.

When to use 調

Learners often confuse 調 with similar-sounding characters like 调 (tiáo), which means 'to adjust' in a different context. This word is mostly used in neutral or formal registers, especially in musical or technical contexts. Be cautious with tone; using a different tone can change the meaning entirely.

調 or something close to it

調 (diào, tune/adjust) vs 音 (yīn, sound) — use 調 when emphasizing the action of tuning or adjusting, while 音 refers specifically to sound itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 調 (diào) with the character 调 (tiáo), which can lead to misunderstandings. Remember, diào relates to music and adjustments, while tiáo is more about 'to adjust' or 'to manage'.

Write 調

調

Practice writing 調 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 調

Words Containing This Character20
调查diàocháinquiry調查
调整tiáozhěngto adjust調整
调diàoto transfer調
强调qiángdiàoto stress強調
协调xiétiáoto coordinate協調
空调kōngtiáoair conditioning空調
调节tiáojiéto adjust調節
低调dīdiàolow pitch低調
调情to flirt調情
调控tiáokòngto regulate調控
调动diàodòngto transfer調動
调研diàoyánresearch調研
宏观调控macro-control宏觀調控
上调shàngtiáoto raise (prices)上調
调解tiáojiěto mediate調解
调味seasoning調味
下调xiàdiàoto demote下調
调头tune調頭
调度diàodùto schedule調度
调皮tiáopínaughty調皮
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 調

What does 调查 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 調

調 can mean 'tune' in a musical context or 'to adjust' in a practical sense.

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