How to say "keynote" in Japanese

• 基調きちょうCommon
  nounCovers the figurative sense of 'keynote': the basic tone, underlying theme, or guiding principle of a speech, report, or policy. Typical in phrases like a keynote address or keynote idea.
  バナーと同おなじ、白しろを基調きちょうとしたデザイン。↗

  Like the banner, the design was based around the colour white.
• 本調子ほんちょうしCommon
  nounMatched to 'keynote' only in the musical sense, especially the proper key of the shamisen. For talks or themes this is not the word you want; it really means one's true form or proper condition.

Use 基調 for the figurative 'keynote' — a speech's or policy's basic tone or theme; 本調子 is really a music term, chiefly the proper key of the shamisen, and seldom what you want.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 基調きちょうbasic tone
• キーノートkeynote
• 主調しゅちょうkeynote
• 主調音しゅちょうおんkeynote
• 主音しゅおんtonic
• 主要点しゅようてんmain point
• 本調子ほんちょうしkeynote (esp. shamisen)