調べ

• Reading: しらべ
• Romaji: shirabe
• Kanji breakdown: 調 (shira/chō) — tune, investigate, melody
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ɾa.be/

Meaning

Tune; melody; the sound of music; also, investigation or inquiry.

A polysemous noun with two primary meanings. In literary and musical contexts, 調べ refers to a melody, tune, or the overall sound and rhythm of music — particularly the strains of traditional instruments. In everyday and formal contexts, it also means an investigation or inquiry (from 調べる, to investigate). Literary usage almost always draws on the musical sense.

Examples

1. 三味線の調べが夜の座敷に静かに流れ、聴衆は息をひそめて聴き入った。 The sound of the shamisen flowed quietly through the evening parlour, and the audience held their breath and listened.
2. 秋の虫の調べを聞きながら、詩人は新しい句を思い浮かべた。 Listening to the songs of autumn insects, the poet called to mind a new verse.
3. 古い民謡の調べには、その土地の歴史と人々の暮らしが刻まれている。 In the melody of an old folk song, the history and lives of the people of that land are inscribed.

Usage Guide

Context: music, traditional arts, poetry

Tone: poetic

Origin & History

The noun form of the verb 調べる (shiraberu, to investigate/to tune). In musical contexts, 調べ derives from the practice of tuning an instrument — checking and adjusting its pitch — which then extended to the resulting sound and melody. One of many Japanese nouns formed from the conjunctive (masu-stem) of a verb.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal