口 調(くちょう)

くちょう

noun

tone of voice

1. tone of voice

The way someone speaks, including their tone, manner, and style of expression. Reflects the speaker's attitude, emotion, or personality.

優(やさ)しい口調(くちょう)で話(はな)す。

To speak in a gentle tone.

彼(かれ)の口調(くちょう)が急(きゅう)に変(か)わった。

His tone of voice suddenly changed.

上司(じょうし)は穏(おだ)やかな口調(くちょう)だったが、内容(ないよう)は厳(きび)しい指摘(してき)だった。

The boss spoke in a calm tone, but the content was a harsh criticism.

Often modified by adjectives describing the quality of the speech. Different from 声(こえ) (voice), which refers to the sound itself, and 話(はな)し方(かた) (way of speaking), which is broader and includes content and structure.

Common collocations

優(やさ)しい口調(くちょう): gentle tone
厳(きび)しい口調(くちょう): harsh tone
穏(おだ)やかな口調(くちょう): calm tone
口調(くちょう)を変(か)える: to change one's tone
命令(めいれい)口調(くちょう): commanding tone

Related Words

Synonym: 話(はな)し方(かた) (way of speaking)

Synonym: 語調(ごちょう) (tone of specific utterances)

Related: 口(くち)ぶり (way of talking)

Compare: 話(はな)しぶり (way of speaking)

general

Added 2026.2.18 15:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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