調
tune, tone, meter, key (music), writing style, prepare, exorcise, investigate, harmonize, mediate
Readings
On'yomi
- チョウ
Kun'yomi
- しら.べる
- しら.べ
- ととの.う
- ととの.える
Nanori
- ぎ
- つぎ
Meaning
調 centers on bringing things into proper alignment: tuning a musical instrument, setting a tone or meter, harmonizing elements, or preparing and arranging things so they work together smoothly. The investigative sense extends this idea to examining and adjusting facts until they fit.
Most common words using 調
24 of 596- 調査ちょうさN3
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
- 調べしらべN1
investigation; inspection; examination
- 調子ちょうしN4
tune; tone; key; pitch; time; rhythm
- 調整ちょうせいN3
adjustment; regulation; coordination; reconciliation; tuning; fixing; tailoring
- 体調たいちょうN3
physical condition; state of health; shape
- 調べるしらべるN5
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study; to inquire; to search
- 強調きょうちょうN3
emphasis; stress; highlighting; underlining; underscoring
- 調教ちょうきょう
training (animals); breaking (animals)
- 調理ちょうりN1
cooking; food preparation
- 調達ちょうたつN1
supply; provision; raising; procurement
- 順調じゅんちょうN3
favourable; favorable; doing well; OK; all right
- 口調くちょう
tone (of voice); manner of talking
- 調節ちょうせつN2
regulation; adjustment; control
- 基調きちょう
basic tone; underlying tone; basic theme; basis; keynote
- 不調ふちょうN2
bad condition; poor condition; disorder; slump; being out of form
- 調和ちょうわN1
harmony; accord; reconciliation; agreement
- 好調こうちょうN1
favourable; favorable; promising; satisfactory; in good shape
- 協調きょうちょうN2
cooperation; conciliation; harmony; coordination
- 同調どうちょうN1
conformity; alignment; agreement; sympathy; following suit
- 調停ちょうていN1
arbitration; conciliation; mediation
- 取り調べとりしらべN1
investigation (e.g. by police or prosecutors); examination; inquiry; enquiry
- 空調くうちょう
air conditioning
- 絶好調ぜっこうちょう
in perfect form; going swimmingly
- 調書ちょうしょ
protocol; written evidence; record (investigation, interrogation, etc.); preliminary memo; charge sheet
Study
Etymology
調 combines 言 (speech, words) with 周, which likely contributes the sound and carries a sense of going around or thoroughness. Together they suggest using words to arrange or harmonize things thoroughly.
Meaning mnemonic
Words (言) arranged all around (周) like a circle: imagine a conductor using spoken instructions to tune every instrument until the whole orchestra is in harmony.
Reading mnemonic
For チョウ, picture a conductor named Chou (pronounced 'choh') who tunes the orchestra: Chou -> チョウ, and his words harmonize everything.