expression, godan verb (-u)
act up; go out of tune; not work right
Used for machines, instruments, or systems that malfunction or lose their normal rhythm.
エアコンが調子が狂って、冷房が効かなくなった。
The air conditioner acted up and the cooling stopped working.
ギターの調子が
The guitar is out of tune, so I need to tune it.
expression, godan verb (-u)
be thrown off; lose one's bearings; lose one's composure
Describes a person whose rhythm, focus, or mental balance is disrupted by something unexpected.
突然の質問に調子が狂って、うまく答えられなかった。
I was thrown off by the sudden question and couldn't answer well.
いつもと違う環境で、どうも調子が狂う。
In an unfamiliar environment, I just can't seem to get into my rhythm.