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Word

单调 (dān diào) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 6

单调 (dān diào) is a Chinese word: monotonous. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 单调

形 xíng adjective

monotonous

他的生活非常单调。

tā de shēng huó fēi cháng dān diào

His life is very monotonous.

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Word breakdown

单 dān — single, simple

Words with this character (21)
Show more (+16)

调 diào — tone, tune

Words with this character (9)
  • 1 调查 diào chá — investigate HSK 4
    • 调 to deploy, to allocate (resources or attention)
    • 查 to examine, to check, to inspect
    Example

    警察正在调查这起案件。

    jǐng chá zhèng zài diào chá zhè qǐ àn jiàn

    The police are investigating this case.

  • 2 强调 qiáng diào — emphasize HSK 5
    • 强 strong, intense (conveys the force or intensity of emphasis)
    • 调 tone, adjust (conveys the act of highlighting or bringing attention to)
    Example

    老师强调了这个问题的重要性。

    lǎo shī qiáng diào le zhè ge wèn tí de zhòng yào xìng

    The teacher emphasized the importance of this issue.

  • 3 调研 diào yán — to conduct research HSK 5
    • 调 to investigate, to survey
    • 研 to research, to study deeply
    Example

    我们需要调研市场需求。

    wǒ men xū yào diào yán shì chǎng xū qiú

    We need to conduct research on market demands.

  • 4 声调 shēng diào — tone HSK 6
    • 声 sound, voice
    • 调 pitch, modulation
    Example

    汉语有四个声调。

    Hàn yǔ yǒu sì gè shēng diào

    Chinese has four tones.

  • 5 调动 diào dòng — to mobilize; to transfer HSK 6
    • 调 to transfer, to shift, to adjust
    • 动 to move, to put into motion
    Example

    我们需要调动大家的积极性。

    wǒ men xū yào diào dòng dà jiā de jī jí xìng

    We need to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm.

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  • 6 低调 dī diào — low-key HSK 7
    • 低 low (position/profile)
    • 调 tone/manner (way of conducting oneself)
    Example

    他为人很低调，从不炫耀自己的成就。

    tā wéi rén hěn dī diào cóng bù xuàn yào zì jǐ de chéng jiù

    He is very low-key as a person and never shows off his achievements.

  • 7 情调 qíng diào — mood, atmosphere HSK 7
    • 情 emotion, feeling (the emotional aspect)
    • 调 tone, style (the qualitative aspect)
    Example

    这家咖啡馆有浓厚的艺术情调。

    zhè jiā kā fēi guǎn yǒu nóng hòu de yì shù qíng diào

    This cafe has a strong artistic atmosphere.

  • 8 调度 diào dù — to dispatch, to schedule, to coordinate HSK 7
    • 调 to transfer, allocate, coordinate
    • 度 measure, regulate, degree
    Example

    公司需要调度车辆运送货物。

    gōng sī xū yào diào dù chē liàng yùn sòng huò wù

    The company needs to dispatch vehicles to transport goods.

  • 9 高调 gāo diào — high-profile HSK 7
    • 高 high, elevated
    • 调 tone, manner, profile
    Example

    他做事总是很高调。

    tā zuò shì zǒng shì hěn gāo diào

    He always does things in a high-profile manner.

Structure & writing
1 单 dān — simple; few in variety or category
单 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 4
弹 tán use the elasticity of one object to propel another
HSK 7
惮 dàn (lit.) to fear; to dread 禅 chán abbreviated transliteration of Sanskrit 'dhyāna', referring to Buddhist meditation 阐 chǎn to explain in detail; to expound and clarify

单 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 调 diào — to transfer; to assign
Xpinyin

调 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 讠 yán — speech/language radical
讠 is a component in 75 characters
HSK 1
认 rèn to recognize; to distinguish 识 shí to know; to recognize; to distinguish 话 huà speech; spoken words; language 语 yǔ speech; words 说 shuō to express in words; to speak
Show more HSK 1 characters (+5)
请 qǐng to request; to ask 读 dú to read aloud following written text 课 kè schoolwork; planned segmented instruction 谁 shéi who (interrogative pronoun) 谢 xiè to thank (reduplicated for emphasis)
HSK 2
让 ràng yield; give way to others when both parties need something 记 jì to memorize; to remember 诉 sù to tell, to express fully and unreservedly 词 cí word (the smallest free-standing unit of language, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives) 试 shì to try; to attempt; to test informally
HSK 3
议 yì to discuss; to deliberate 讲 jiǎng to speak; to talk 该 gāi should; ought to 调 tiáo well-proportioned; harmonious
HSK 4
计 jì to calculate; to reckon 订 dìng to correct, to revise (errors in text) 讨 tǎo to launch a punitive expedition; to attack with troops 许 xǔ to permit; to allow 论 lùn to analyze and judge the reasoning of things
Show more HSK 4 characters (+8)
证 zhèng to prove or verify with people, objects, or facts 评 píng critical comment or review article 诚 chéng sincere, genuine (of one's heart or intentions) 详 xiáng detailed and thorough (opposite of 略) 误 wù wrong; erroneous 谅 liàng to understand and forgive 谈 tán to speak or discuss 谊 yì friendship; friendly relations
HSK 5
罚 fá to punish someone for a mistake or crime 训 xùn to teach; to admonish 设 shè to arrange; to set up 访 fǎng to inquire; to investigate by questioning 诊 zhěn to examine a patient (to diagnose an illness)
Show more HSK 5 characters (+3)
诗 shī poetry; poem (a literary form expressing emotion through rhythmic language) 询 xún to inquire, to seek opinions 谨 jǐn cautious; careful
HSK 6
讯 xùn to inquire 讶 yà (lit.) to be surprised; to wonder at 诞 dàn to be born; to give birth 诸 zhū all, many, various 诺 nuò an exclamation of agreement, similar to 'yes' or 'okay'
Show more HSK 6 characters (+3)
谐 xié harmonious; well-coordinated 谓 wèi to say; to tell 谦 qiān humble, modest
HSK 7
狱 yù prison; jail 蔼 ǎi friendly, amiable 讥 jī to mock, to satirize 讳 huì to avoid mentioning; to taboo speaking of something 讹 é erroneous; untrue
Show more HSK 7 characters (+22)
讼 sòng to litigate; to take a case to court 讽 fěng to satirize, mock, or admonish with cutting innuendo 诀 jué mnemonic rhyme or phrase summarizing key points of a subject 诈 zhà to deceive; to swindle 诠 quán to explain; to interpret 诡 guǐ deceitful, cunning 诧 chà to be astonished; to feel surprised 诫 jiè to warn; to admonish 诬 wū to falsely accuse; to slander with fabricated facts 诱 yòu to guide; to counsel 诵 sòng read aloud; recite with intonation 诽 fěi to slander; to speak ill of others without basis 谋 móu plan; stratagem; scheme 谍 dié (lit.) to secretly gather intelligence on military, political, or economic matters 谎 huǎng lie; falsehood 谜 mí riddle; enigmatic puzzle phrased in words for guessing 谣 yáo folk song; improvised rhyme sung without accompaniment 谤 bàng (lit.) to denounce and publicize others' faults 谬 miù erroneous; mistaken 谱 pǔ a chart, table, or book compiled by category or system 谴 qiǎn to reproach; to reprimand 辩 biàn to debate; to argue about right and wrong or truth and falsehood
2.2 周 zhōu — periphery; circle
周 is a component in 5 characters
HSK 3
调 tiáo well-proportioned; harmonious
HSK 7
凋 diāo withered, faded 稠 chóu thick; viscous (of liquid, opposite of 稀) 绸 chóu silk fabric; thin and soft silk textile 雕 diāo to carve or engrave on bamboo, wood, jade, metal, etc.

Stroke order