调理 (tiáolǐ) refers to the process of adjusting or regulating something to achieve a desired state, often used in contexts related to health or diet. It can imply organizing or managing one's lifestyle or habits to improve well-being, emphasizing a balance or harmony in one’s physical or mental state.
HSK 5, 16 strokes, Hard
tiáolǐ(tiao2li3) T2
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
May 27, 2026
调理tiáolǐ(tiao2li3)
调理 (tiáolǐ) refers to the process of adjusting or regulating something to achieve a desired state, often used in contexts related to health or diet. It can imply organizing or managing one's lifestyle or habits to improve well-being, emphasizing a balance or harmony in one’s physical or mental state.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 调理 is often associated with traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasizes balance in one's diet and lifestyle to maintain health and prevent illness, reflecting a holistic view of well-being.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef carefully adjusting the flavors in a dish to achieve perfect harmony. The character 调 (tiáo) looks like a person adjusting the ingredients, while 理 (lǐ) represents order and reason. Together, they symbolize the art of balancing and regulating for optimal health.
About 调理
调理Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 调理
Podcast: 调理
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 调理
Quick Contrast
养生 (yǎngshēng) - use 调理 when focusing on the adjustment process, while 养生 emphasizes the broader practice of health preservation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef carefully adjusting the flavors in a dish to achieve perfect harmony. The character 调 (tiáo) looks like a person adjusting the ingredients, while 理 (lǐ) represents order and reason. Together, they symbolize the art of balancing and regulating for optimal health.
Usage Notes
调理 is often used in health-related contexts, especially when discussing diet or wellness. A common mistake is using it interchangeably with similar terms like 治疗 (zhìliáo), which means 'treatment'—调理 focuses more on adjustment and maintenance rather than direct treatment of illness.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK 5, learners should focus on using 调理 in sentences related to health and lifestyle. It can be connected to vocabulary around wellness and management, such as 饮食 (yǐnshí, diet) and 生活 (shēnghuó, life).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 调理 is often associated with traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasizes balance in one's diet and lifestyle to maintain health and prevent illness, reflecting a holistic view of well-being.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 调理 with 调整 (tiáozhěng), which means 'to adjust' without the health connotation. For example, saying '我调整我的饮食' (Wǒ tiáozhěng wǒ de yǐnshí) might imply a simple adjustment rather than the holistic approach of 调理.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 调理
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 调理 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 调理 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 调理
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 调理 is often associated with traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasizes balance in one's diet and lifestyle to maintain health and prevent illness, reflecting a holistic view of well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions about 调理
You can say '我需要调理我的饮食' (Wǒ xūyào tiáolǐ wǒ de yǐnshí), which means 'I need to adjust my diet.'
While it is commonly used in relation to physical health, 调理 can also refer to organizing and managing mental and emotional states.
Yes, 调理 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health and wellness.
