Meaning Index
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "tune", including 调 (diào / tiáo), 曲 (qū / qǔ), 腔 (qiāng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
The English word "tune" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 调 (diào / tiáo), 曲 (qū / qǔ), 腔 (qiāng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span diào, tiáo, qū, qǔ, qiāng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 调 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 调 (diào / tiáo) — so "tune" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "tune".
请帮我调一下空调的温度。Qǐng bāng wǒ tiáo yí xià kōng tiáo de wēn dù.Please help me adjust the air conditioner temperature.
Common words: 调查 (diào chá)、调整 (tiáo zhěng)、强调 (qiáng diào)
她弹奏了一首优美的曲子。Tā tán zòu le yì shǒu yōu měi de qǔ zi.She played a beautiful tune.
Common words: 歌曲 (gē qǔ)、弯曲 (wān qū)、曲子 (qǔ zi)
他唱戏的腔调十分地道。Tā chàng xì de qiāng diào shí fēn dì dao.His operatic singing style is very authentic.
Common words: 口腔 (kǒu qiāng)、一腔 (yī qiāng)、腔子 (qiāng zi)
Open 调、曲、腔 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.