走调 (zǒu diào) — to be out of tune (in singing or playing music)

Definition

Examples

• 他唱歌经常走调，大家都习惯了。
  Tā chàng gē jīng cháng zǒu diào, dà jiā dōu xí guàn le.
  He often sings out of tune; everyone is used to it.
• 这首歌太难了，我唱到最后几乎走了调。
  Zhè shǒu gē tài nán le, wǒ chàng dào zuì hòu jī hū zǒu le tiáo.
  This song is too hard; by the end I was almost out of tune.
• 他弹钢琴时不小心走了一个音调。
  Tā tán gāng qín shí bù xiǎo xīn zǒu le yí gè yīn diào.
  He accidentally went a note out of tune while playing the piano.