调整

• Pinyin: tiáo zhěng
• Hanzi breakdown: 调 = 讠 (speech) + 周 (complete, phonetic); 整 = 敕 (order) + 正 (correct)

Meaning

To adjust; to regulate. Refers to making changes or modifications to improve or correct something.

A versatile verb used for adjusting plans, schedules, attitudes, positions, and various settings. It implies a purposeful modification rather than a drastic change. Commonly used in both daily life and professional contexts.

Examples

1. 老师调整了考试的时间。 The teacher adjusted the exam time.
2. 你需要调整一下自己的学习计划。 You need to adjust your study plan.
3. 公司决定调整员工的工作安排。 The company decided to adjust the employees' work arrangements.

Usage Guide

Context: work, everyday, planning

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我们调整一下出发的时间吧。(Let's adjust the departure time.)
• 医生建议他调整饮食习惯。(The doctor suggested he adjust his eating habits.)

Don't Say

• 我调整了这个坏掉的东西。(Don't use 调整 for fixing broken things — use 修理 instead. 调整 means to fine-tune or modify, not to repair.)

Origin & History

调 means 'to regulate' or 'to tune' and 整 means 'to arrange' or 'to put in order'. Together they express the idea of making orderly modifications.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal