JLPT N2 Vocabulary – The difference between “調節” and “調整”

Table of Contents

1. The difference between “調節ちょうせつ” and “調整ちょうせい“
2. 調節ちょうせつ
3. 調整ちょうせい
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comments

Q: Please explain the difference between “調節ちょうせつ” and “調整ちょうせい.”

A: Both “調節ちょうせつ” and “調整ちょうせい” mean “to make something into an appropriate or suitable state.”
However, they are used in slightly different situations.
“調節ちょうせつ” is used when adjusting the amount, strength, height, temperature, and so on to make something just right.
“調整ちょうせい” is used when arranging or adjusting something so that it fits a standard, schedule, another person, or the overall balance.
They are similar words, but let’s learn the key points and use them correctly.

調節ちょうせつ (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To adjust the amount, strength, height, temperature, and so on to make something just right

[Words commonly used]
温度おんど (temperature), 音量おんりょう／ボリューム (volume), 明あかるさ (brightness), 高たかさ (height), 長ながさ (length), 量りょう (amount), 味あじ (taste), サイズ (size)

“調節ちょうせつ” is often used when the current state is not seriously bad, but you change it little by little to make it easier to use or more comfortable.

For example, it is used when you lower the volume a little because the sound is too loud, slightly change the air conditioner temperature, or adjust the height of a chair so that it suits you.

[Examples]
料理りょうりに砂糖さとうを入いれて、甘あまさを調節ちょうせつします。
I adjust the sweetness by adding sugar to the dish.

ボリュームを調節ちょうせつしたら、音おとが聞きこえやすくなりました。
Adjusting the volume made the sound easier to hear.

パソコンの高たかさを調節ちょうせつしたら、見みやすくなりました。
Adjusting the height of the computer made the screen easier to see.

画像がぞうの位置いちとサイズを調節ちょうせつしましょう。
Let’s adjust the position and size of the image.
it easier to see.

画像がぞうの位置いちとサイズを調節ちょうせつしましょう。
Let’s adjust the position and size of the image.

調整ちょうせい (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
To arrange or adjust something so that it fits a standard, purpose, another person, or the overall balance

[Common situations where 調整ちょうせい is used]
① Reaching an agreement by adjusting something to another person or a schedule
schedule, plan, date, time, plan, opinion

② Fixing something that is not working well or is out of alignment
settings, balance, volume, colour, temperature, height, prescription

③ Adjusting something to fit a standard so that there is neither too much nor too little
budget, personnel, quantity, stock

“調整ちょうせい” is often used when something does not fit, is out of alignment, or is not well balanced, and you correct it to make it just right.
Compared with “調節ちょうせつ,” “調整ちょうせい” has a stronger nuance of arranging something while considering the overall balance or its relationship with other people, schedules, or conditions.

[Examples]
部屋へやの温度おんど調整ちょうせいをしたら、ちょうど良よくなりました。
Adjusting the room temperature made it just right.

スタッフが多おおすぎるので、人員じんいんを調整ちょうせいしましょう。
There are too many staff members, so let’s adjust the staffing.

時間じかんを調整ちょうせいして、みんなが来きられるようにしました。
I adjusted the time so that everyone could come.

このめがねは、度数どすうを調整ちょうせいしないといけません。
These glasses need to have the prescription adjusted.

会議かいぎの日程にっていを調整ちょうせいしています。
I am coordinating the meeting schedule.

Let’s Compare

Both “調節ちょうせつ” and “調整ちょうせい” mean “to make changes to something and put it into a good condition.”
However, the main focus is different.
“調節ちょうせつ” means adjusting the temperature, volume, height, amount, and so on to make something just right.
“調整ちょうせい” means arranging or adjusting something so that it fits a standard, schedule, another person, or the overall balance.

[Example 1: Temperature]
部屋へやの温度おんどを調節ちょうせつします。
I adjust the room temperature.
⇒ You adjust the temperature so that it is not too hot or too cold.

暑あついので、部屋へやの温度おんどを調整ちょうせいします。
Since it’s hot, I adjust the room temperature.
⇒ The current temperature is not comfortable, so you adjust it to make the room more comfortable.

Both can be used, but when focusing on the action of slightly raising or lowering the temperature, “調節ちょうせつ” is natural.
When focusing on the purpose of making it fit a comfortable state,“調整ちょうせい” is natural.

[Example 2: Schedule]
スケジュールを調節ちょうせつします。

I will adjust the schedule.
⇒ This is not grammatically wrong, but it may sound a little unnatural.

スケジュールを調整ちょうせいします。

I coordinate the schedule.
⇒ This is natural because it means arranging the schedule according to plans or other people’s availability.

For words such as schedule, plan, date, and time, “調整ちょうせい” is often used because they involve relationships with other people or conditions.

[Example 3: Volume]
音量おんりょうを調節ちょうせつしてください。

Please adjust the volume.
⇒ You make the sound louder or quieter to make it just right.

音量おんりょうを調整ちょうせいしてください。

Please adjust the volume.
⇒ This has the nuance of adjusting the sound balance or settings.

In everyday conversation, both can be used. However, when making the sound louder or quieter with a button or dial, “音量おんりょうを調節ちょうせつする” is especially natural.

Summary

[調節ちょうせつ]

• “調節ちょうせつ” means adjusting the amount, strength, height, temperature, and so on to make something just right.
• It is used when slightly changing the current state to make something easier to use or more comfortable.
• It is often used with things that can be changed little by little, such as volume, temperature, brightness, height, amount, and taste.

[調整ちょうせい]

• “調整ちょうせい” means arranging or adjusting something so that it fits a standard, purpose, another person, or the overall balance.
• It is used when plans or conditions do not match, when the overall balance is not right, or when something needs to be adjusted to fit a standard.
• It is often used with words such as schedule, date, time, budget, personnel, opinion, settings, and balance.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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