Meanings of 调
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About 调
Podcast: 调
Podcast: 调
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AI Study Notes for 调
调 (diào) vs 调整 (tiáozhěng) — use 调 for a more informal or immediate adjustment, while 调整 implies a more formal, systematic change.
Imagine a musician adjusting the tune of their instrument. The character 调 has the component 糸 (silk, suggesting strings or music) and the phonetic element 调 (diào), which sounds like 'dial'—think of dialing in a perfect melody or harmony.
Be mindful of the context in which 调 is used, as it can imply both physical adjustment (like tuning an instrument) and abstract notions (like harmonizing relationships). Common collocations include 调整 (tiáozhěng - to adjust) and 调查 (diàochá - to investigate).
调 is not specifically listed in HSK levels but is useful for learners beyond basic levels, particularly in HSK 4 and above. Focus on its various usages in different contexts to enrich vocabulary and understanding.
调 is often associated with traditional Chinese music and the importance of harmony in Chinese philosophy, such as Confucianism, which values balanced relationships and social harmony.
Learners often confuse 调 with similar-sounding characters like 叫 (jiào - to call) or 料 (liào - material), leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我调了她的名字' (I adjusted her name) instead of '我叫了她的名字' (I called her name) can be misleading.
Pronunciation of 调
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Etymology of 调
Simplified form of 調. Phonosemantic compound. 言 represents the meaning and 周 represents the sound.
speech
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 调
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Write 调
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Practice writing 调 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 调
调 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 22 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
舒服什么啊，办公室空____坏了。
Comfortable? The office AC is broken!
Example Sentences for 调 (10)
Cultural Notes for 调
调 is often associated with traditional Chinese music and the importance of harmony in Chinese philosophy, such as Confucianism, which values balanced relationships and social harmony.
In Western music, harmony is often about chord progressions, while in Chinese culture, 调 also encompasses the emotional and relational aspects of music and life, emphasizing a broader application of harmony.
Word Family of 调
Compound Meaning
What does 调查 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 调
调 is pronounced as 'diào', with a falling tone. Practice saying it with emphasis on the tone to distinguish it from similar sounds.