Word
調子
Meaning in Englishcondition, rhythm, tone, state
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
Related sentences
Related sentences
There are no published items in this section yet.
Word context
What it means
調子 refers to the current condition or performance level of something or someone, including physical health, the functioning of a device, or one's manner or mood; it can also mean the musical tune or rhythm being played.
Main meanings
- Condition or state of health or functioning of a person or object
- Musical tune, melody, or rhythm
- State of mind, level of performance, or how well something is working
- Idiomatic uses to describe being in good form or getting carried away (e.g., 調子に乗る)
How to use it
Used across casual conversation and formal writing. In everyday talk it describes health, energy, or performance; with machines or devices it denotes their operating condition; in music it refers to tune or tempo; common expressions describe mood or behavior shifts, and idioms convey various attitudes.
Variants and close terms
- 具合 (guai) — condition/health
- 様子 (yōsu) — appearance/state
- 調子がいい/悪い (chōshi ga ii/warui) — in good/bad shape
Composition
- 調: to adjust, to tune, to regulate; tone and harmony
- 子: often a phonetic or suffix component; in combination forms a noun indicating a state or condition related to the base meaning
Word class
noun (名詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N3
順調
junchou
favorable, going well, smooth
N3
女子
joshi
woman, girl, female
N3
王子
ouji
prince
N3
菓子
kashi
sweets, confectionery
N3
強調
kyouchou
emphasis, stress, highlight
N3
様子
yousu
state, appearance, situation
N3
協調
kyouchou
cooperation, harmony, coordination
N3
男子
danshi
boy, young man, male
N3
調査
chousa
survey, investigation, research
Kanji