调子

dìng diào zi

定调子

call the tune

tā biān zǒu biān hēng zhe diào zi

他边走边哼着调子。

He hummed a tune while walking.

bǎ diào zi jiàng dī

把调子降低

play down one's tune

jiàng dī pī pàn de diào zi

降低批判的调子

tone down the criticism

diào zi shēn chén de yǎn shuō

调子深沉的演说

low-keyed speech

tā jiǎng huà dài zhe bēi guān de diào zi

他讲话带着悲观的调子。

There was a note of pessimism in what he said.

tā gǎi biàn le diào zi

她改变了调子。

She changed her tone.

wén zhāng zhǐ zuò le wén zì shang de gǎi dòng jī běn diào zi méi yǒu biàn

文章只做了文字上的改动，基本调子没有变。

In the article, some changes have been made in wording, but its basic spirit remains the same.

gōng huì dài biǎo zài gōng zī de wèn tí shang quán dōu shì yī gè diào zi

工会代表在工资的问题上全都是一个调子。

Union representatives are all singing from the same hymn sheet on the issue of pay.