调
harmonize, tune
At a glance · 调
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
调字小篆从言周声，为形声字；本义为调和、协调，亦指音调。甲骨文未见。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
调本义为调和，引申为调节、音调。
Structure
形声字，左部『言』为意符表言语协调，右部『周』为声符。
At a glance
Pinyindiào
Radical讠
Strokes10
UnicodeU+8C03
Character type形声
Theme礼乐
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
harmonize, tune
Diao is a phonetic-semantic character meaning to harmonize and adjust, also a musical tune.
Français
harmoniser, ton
Diao est un caractère phonético-sémantique signifiant harmoniser et ajuster, aussi un ton musical.
Español
armonizar, tono
Diao es un carácter fonosemántico que significa armonizar y ajustar, también un tono musical.
العربية
ينسّق، نغمة
دياو حرف صوتي دلالي يعني التنسيق والتعديل، وكذا نغمة موسيقية.
Русский
гармонизировать, тон
Дяо — фоносемантический знак, означающий гармонизировать и настраивать, также музыкальный тон.
Common words
- 调节tiáo jiéadjust
- 调整tiáo zhěngadjust