The Meaning of chōshi [調子] In Japanese

調子
ちょうし
Romaji: chōshi N5

What does 調子 mean?

Translation and Meaning

condition, tune, state, mode, form

Definition

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.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

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)

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

Usage

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.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine tuning a musical instrument and then checking the overall state — the sound you hear is the 調子; the process of tuning guides you to remember that it means both tune and condition.

Variations

  • 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

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 調子が いいので 友だちと 散歩に 出かけた。
    kyou wa choushi ga ii node tomodachi to sanpo ni dekaketa
    Today my condition is good, so I went for a walk with a friend.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 調子が (choushi ga) – condition
    • いいので (ii node) – since it’s good
    • 友だちと (tomodachi to) – with a friend
    • 散歩に (sanpo ni) – for a walk
    • 出かけた (dekaketa) – went out
    Here 「調子」 means ‘condition/health’, used with が to mark the subject; together 「体の調子が良い」 expresses that one’s physical condition is good.
調子