Meaning of 单调
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- monotonous
How to use 单调
单调 describes things that are dull because they lack variety, such as food, colors, work, or daily life. It often follows 很 or 太. Example: 每天的生活太单调了。(Měitiān de shēnghuó tài dāndiào le.) Daily life is too monotonous.
单 (dān) means single and 调 (diào) means tune or tone. A single tune played over and over is 单调: monotonous.
Common mistake: Learners often read 调 as tiáo here, like in 调整 (tiáozhěng). In 单调 it is always diào, the same reading as in 调查 (diàochá).
单调 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
单 dān · bill · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
调 diào · to transfer · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 单调.
| 名单 | míngdān | list of names |
| 单位 | dānwèi | unit (of measure); unit (group of people as a whole) |
| 菜单 | càidān | menu |
| 简单 | jiǎndān | simple; not complicated |
| 调查 | diàochá | investigation; inquiry |
| 调整 | tiáozhěng | to adjust; to revise; to reorganize |
| 强调 | qiángdiào | to emphasize (a statement); to stress |
| 空调 | kōngtiáo | air conditioning; air conditioner (including units that have a heating mode) |
| 单元 | dānyuán | unit (forming an entity); element |
| 单独 | dāndú | alone; by oneself |
| 单纯 | dānchún | simple; pure |
| 调皮 | tiáopí | naughty; mischievous |
Questions about 单调
What does 单调 mean?
单调 (dāndiào) means "monotonous" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 单调?
单调 is made of 2 characters: 单 (8 strokes), 调 (10 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 单调 an HSK word?
Yes. 单调 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 单调 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 单调 is written 單調.
What is the difference between 单调 and 无聊?
单调 describes something that lacks variety, like a plain color scheme or repetitive work. 无聊 (wúliáo) means boring and can also describe how a person feels, as in 我很无聊 (I'm bored). You would not say 我很单调 to mean you are bored.
What is the opposite of 单调?
Common opposites are 丰富 (fēngfù, rich, varied) and 多样 (duōyàng, diverse). For example, 生活很丰富 means life is full and varied.