上调

• Pinyin: shàng tiáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = 一 + 卜 (upward); 调 = 讠+ 周 (adjust, tune)

Meaning

To raise; to adjust upward. Typically refers to increasing prices, interest rates, quotas, or salary levels.

Used in economic, financial, and policy contexts. Often appears in news reporting about rate hikes, price increases, or quota revisions. Formal register.

Examples

1. 中央银行宣布上调基准利率零点二五个百分点。 The central bank announced a 0.25 percentage-point increase in the benchmark interest rate.
2. 由于原材料成本上升，公司决定上调产品售价。 As raw material costs rose, the company decided to raise its product prices.
3. 政府将最低工资标准上调了百分之八。 The government raised the minimum wage standard by 8 percent.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, policy, finance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 发改委决定上调成品油价格。(The NDRC decided to raise refined oil prices.)
• 这家航空公司上调了旺季机票价格。(The airline raised ticket prices for the peak season.)

Don't Say

• 用上调描述个人行为（如调高音量） — use 调高 or 调大 instead in everyday contexts

Origin & History

上 (upward) + 调 (adjust) — to adjust in an upward direction

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal