調子
Meanings
Used for musical or sound qualities such as pitch, tone, key, timing, or rhythm. Often appears with instruments, singing, or rhythmic movement.
They danced to the rhythm of the drum.
The tune of the song was a little off.
Refers to the way something is said or done: a tone of voice, manner, style, vein of speech, or the feel/knack of doing something smoothly.
She spoke in a calm tone.
I am gradually getting the hang of the new job.
condition; state of health; working order
Very common for physical health, bodily condition, performance, or whether a machine or thing is working well. Typical phrases include 調子がいい and 調子が悪い.
My stomach is not feeling right today.
This copier has been acting up recently.
momentum; impetus; being carried away
Used for momentum or the impulse that carries an action forward, especially in fixed expressions such as 調子に乗る and その調子で. It can imply acting on the spur of the moment or getting swept up in the flow.
I got carried away and even said things I should not have.
Keep going like that until the end.
Used for the way a situation is developing, often in patterns like この調子では or 今の調子なら, meaning 'at this rate' or 'if things continue like this.'
At this rate, we will not make the deadline.
If things keep going like this, we should be able to reach the goal this year.
Usage patterns· 7
- その調子でkeep going like that; in that same vein
Keep it up like that all the way to the end.
- 〈人〉の話に調子を合わせるto go along with someone's tone/manner of speaking
He nodded along, matching his boss's tone.
- 体の調子を整えるto get one's body into good condition
I'm keeping myself in good shape by sleeping and waking early.
- 調子をとるto keep time/rhythm (with music or movement)
She sang while keeping the beat with hand claps.
- この調子ではat this rate; if things continue like this
At this rate, it probably won't be finished by tomorrow.
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- 調子を崩すto fall out of condition; to become unwell or malfunction
After several all-nighters in a row, I ended up feeling unwell.
- 〈物〉の調子を見るto check how something (a machine, etc.) is running
After the repair, I had them check how the engine was running.
Expressions· 11
- 調子に乗るget carried away; get cocky; get overly elated · get up to speed; get into gear
- 調子こくget carried away; get cocky; be elated
- 調子狂うact up; go out of tune; not work right · be thrown off; lose one's bearings; lose composure
- 調子がいいin good condition; working well; feeling well · glib; smooth-talking · harmonious; melodious; rhythmical
- 調子が悪いin bad shape; not doing well; out of condition
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- 調子が戻るget back to normal; get back into one's stride; get back into the swing of things
- 調子が狂うact up; go out of tune; not work right · be thrown off; lose one's bearings; lose one's composure
- 調子のいいin good condition; working well; feeling fine · glib; smooth-talking; slick · harmonious; melodious; rhythmical