tune, tone, meter, key (music), writing style, prepare, exorcise, investigate, harmonize, mediate
調 centers on bringing things into proper alignment: tuning a musical instrument, setting a tone or meter, harmonizing elements, or preparing and arranging things so they work together smoothly. The investigative sense extends this idea to examining and adjusting facts until they fit.
調 combines 言 (speech, words) with 周, which likely contributes the sound and carries a sense of going around or thoroughness. Together they suggest using words to arrange or harmonize things thoroughly.
Words (言) arranged all around (周) like a circle: imagine a conductor using spoken instructions to tune every instrument until the whole orchestra is in harmony.
For チョウ, picture a conductor named Chou (pronounced 'choh') who tunes the orchestra: Chou -> チョウ, and his words harmonize everything.
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
investigation; inspection; examination
tune; tone; key; pitch; time; rhythm
adjustment; regulation; coordination; reconciliation; tuning; fixing; tailoring
physical condition; state of health; shape
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study; to inquire; to search
emphasis; stress; highlighting; underlining; underscoring
training (animals); breaking (animals)
cooking; food preparation
supply; provision; raising; procurement
favourable; favorable; doing well; OK; all right
tone (of voice); manner of talking
regulation; adjustment; control
basic tone; underlying tone; basic theme; basis; keynote
bad condition; poor condition; disorder; slump; being out of form
harmony; accord; reconciliation; agreement
favourable; favorable; promising; satisfactory; in good shape
cooperation; conciliation; harmony; coordination
conformity; alignment; agreement; sympathy; following suit
arbitration; conciliation; mediation
investigation (e.g. by police or prosecutors); examination; inquiry; enquiry
air conditioning
in perfect form; going swimmingly
protocol; written evidence; record (investigation, interrogation, etc.); preliminary memo; charge sheet
monotony; monotone; dullness
minor key
major key
making up a prescription; dispensing a prescription; preparing a medicine
signature; signing; sealing
tone (of argument); tenor; drift
color tone; colour tone
recovery; return to form; regaining one's (usual) form
preliminary investigation; preliminary inquiry
(national) census
malnutrition
inactive; slow; sluggish; slack; low tone; undertone; dullness; (market) weakness
pace; step; cadence
good (condition); going well; fine; smooth
firm (market); bullish
G major
confusion
flippant; frivolous; shallow
fact-finding investigation; investigation into actual conditions; fact-finding survey
market research
attitude survey; opinion poll
one's normal condition; one's usual state
seasoning; flavoring; flavouring; condiment
fundraising