调

調

tiáo

verb HSK 3 #1,523

Meanings

1 to adjust; to regulate
2 to mix; to blend
3 tone; melody; tune

Characters

to transfer; tune / to adjust; to mix

Two pronunciations: diào (to transfer, a tune) and tiáo (to adjust, to mix).

Examples

把音量调小一点。

Bǎ yīnliàng tiáo xiǎo yīdiǎn.

Turn the volume down a bit.

这首歌的调很高。

Zhè shǒu gē de diào hěn gāo.

This song's key is very high.

他在调颜色。

Tā zài tiáo yánsè.

He's mixing colors.

Tips

grammar

调 has two common readings: tiáo (to adjust, to mix) and diào (tone, melody, to transfer). 调查 uses diào, while 调整 uses tiáo.

Stroke Order

调 tiáo