HSK Level 4

单调

dān diào

monotonous; dull; drab

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Example Sentences

这首歌听起来很单调。

Zhè shǒu gē tīng qǐlái hěn dān diào.

This song sounds monotonous.

他的生活很单调。

Tā de shēng huó hěn dān diào.

His life is monotonous.

这个故事很单调。

Zhè ge gù shi hěn dān diào.

This story is monotonous.

Synonyms

枯燥 (kū zào)

dry

乏味 (fá wèi)

tasteless

Antonyms

丰富 (fēng fù)

rich

多彩 (duō cǎi)

colorful

Etymology & Components

The Chinese character 单调 (dān diào) is composed of two characters: 单 (dān), meaning "single" or "simple", and 调 (diào), meaning "tone" or "tune". Together, they form the compound word 单调, which literally means "single tone" or "monotone". In the context of music, 单调 refers to a melody or piece of music that lacks variation in pitch or rhythm, resulting in a monotonous or repetitive sound. In a broader sense, 单调 can also be used to describe anything that is lacking in variety or interest, such as a monotonous job or a dull conversation.