musical key; mode
In Western music, refers to the key (e.g., ハ調 = C major). In gagaku, refers to the modal system (e.g., 平調, 盤渉調).
Suffix used in musical contexts to indicate time signature, tempo, or rhythmic feel (e.g., 二拍子調, 速い調).
Suffix used in poetry to indicate metrical pattern (e.g., 五七調 for 5-7 syllable meter).
Suffix indicating a particular style, manner, or mood (e.g., 文章調, 古調, 現代調). Often used to describe the character or flavor of something.
tax in kind
Historical term for a tax paid with local products under the ritsuryō system. Rarely used outside historical contexts.
This piece is written in C major.
In gagaku, modes such as hyōjō and banshikichō are used.
This piece is played in four-four time.
The 5-7 meter is one of the traditional Japanese poetic forms.
His writing has an old-fashioned style.
This room is decorated in a Japanese-style interior.
Under the ritsuryō system, silk and cloth were paid as tax in kind.
風 is a common suffix meaning 'style' or 'manner' (as in 日本風), overlapping with 調's sense of style in phrases like 現代調.
律 is an older term for musical mode used mainly in gagaku, while 調 is the more general suffix for key or mode and is far more common today.
租 was the ritsuryō-era tax paid in rice, whereas 調 was the tax paid in local products; the two are easily mixed up when studying the old tax system.
庸 was the ritsuryō-era labor tax, distinct from 調, which was the tax paid in kind with regional goods.
investigation; examination; inquiry; survey
tune; tone; rhythm; pitch · tone; manner; style; knack · condition; state of health; working order · momentum; impetus; being carried away · trend; course; rate
adjustment; regulation; coordination; tuning
physical condition; state of health
emphasis; stress; highlighting · accentuating; bringing out a feature; accenting · firm market tone; strong tone
The kanji 調 originally meant 'to harmonize' or 'to adjust'. As a suffix, it developed various specialized meanings in music, poetry, and style. The historical tax sense derives from the idea of 'tribute' or 'levy'.
tone of voice; manner of speaking
adjustment; regulation; control
basic tone; underlying theme; basis · trend; prevailing mood · keynote (music)
poor condition; not working well; slump · failure; breakdown; collapse of talks
harmony; accord; reconciliation
favorable; promising; in good shape
seasoning; flavoring
cooperation; harmony; coordination
conformity; agreement; sympathy; going along with · tuning; synchronization · same tone; same pitch
arbitration; conciliation; mediation
air conditioning
imbalance; disharmony; malfunction · ataxia
in perfect form; going swimmingly
official record; written evidence; protocol
mixing; blending; compounding; preparation
making new; having made; buying new; refurbishing; renovating · new tune; new melody; new composition
monotonous; dull; lacking variety · monotone; monotonic
melody; tune
minor key
major key
dispensing a prescription; compounding medicine