Definition
基调 (jī diào) literally means 'base tone' and has two main senses: in music, it's the keynote or fundamental key of a piece; in broader contexts, it refers to the central theme, keynote, or underlying tone of a speech, meeting, or work. The figurative sense is more common in HSK-level reading materials.
n.
(music) keynotefundamental key(figurative) central themekeynote (of a speech, event, etc.)
Examples
- 基调C。Zhè shǒu qǔzi de jī diào shì C dà diào.The keynote of this piece is C major.
- 基调。Huìyì de jī diào shì hézuò yǔ fāzhǎn.The central theme of the meeting is cooperation and development.
- 基调。Tā de yǎnjiǎng quèdìng le zhěng chǎng huódòng de jī diào.His speech set the keynote for the entire event.
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