• 調子ちょうし — condition / tone
• 調味料ちょうみりょう — seasoning
• 強調きょうちょう — emphasis
• 調査ちょうさ — investigation
• 調整ちょうせい — adjustment

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調 is made of 言（ごんべん）on the left, representing words or speech, and 周 on the right, which suggests encircling or completeness. Together, it conveys the idea of organizing through words — whether that’s investigating, adjusting, or harmonizing something like tone or balance.

先生せんせいに調しらべてもらいもらいました。
The teacher investigated it for me.

ピアノの調子ちょうしが悪わるいです。
The piano is out of tune.