TongTong
Sign in

下调 (xià tiáo) — to demote (someone to a lower rank); to transfer (a task, responsibility, etc.) to a lower level

Definition

下调 is used in formal/HR contexts: demoting a person to a lower rank or passing a task/responsibility down a hierarchy. For simply lowering numbers, prices, or amounts use 降低.

verb
to demote (someone to a lower rank)to transfer (a task, responsibility, etc.) to a lower level
Easily confused

Examples

  • 下调。
    Gōng sī bǎ jīng lǐ xià tiáo le.
    The company demoted the manager.
  • 下调。
    Zǒng bù bǎ zhè ge xiàng mù xià tiáo gěi fēn gōng sī.
    Headquarters passed this project down to the branch office.
  • 下调。
    Tā de zhí wèi bèi xià tiáo le.
    His position was downgraded.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

下xiàdown
调tiáoadjust/transfer

下 (down) and 调 (adjust/transfer) combine to mean moving something to a lower level or rank.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu調tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.