体調

• Reading: たいちょう
• Romaji: taichou
• Kanji breakdown: 体 (tai) — body; 調 (chou) — condition, tone
• Pronunciation: /tai.tɕoː/

Meaning

Physical condition; state of health. Used to describe how someone is feeling physically.

Most commonly appears in phrases like 体調が悪い (feeling unwell) and 体調を崩す (to fall ill). It refers specifically to one's current physical state rather than overall health, making it distinct from 健康 which is more general.

Examples

1. 今日は体調が悪いので、学校を休みます。 I'm not feeling well today, so I'm going to stay home from school.
2. 旅行の前に体調を整えておきたい。 I want to get myself in good shape before the trip.
3. 最近体調はいかがですか。 How have you been feeling lately?

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, workplace, medical

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 体 (body) and 調 (tone, condition). Together they describe the current condition or tone of the body.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal