What is the difference between 調子【ちょうし】 (choushi) and 具合【ぐあい】 (guai)?


Both words mean condition. In what context do we use them? Is one for
expressing the condition of living things and the other one for the non-living
things?




They are very similar, but I feel the threshold between よい調子 and 悪い調子 is
higher than that between よい具合 and 悪い具合.

  * 彼は調子が良い: He is at his best
  * 彼は調子が悪い: He is not in his best condition, if not ill
  * 彼は具合が悪い: He is sick
  * 機械の調子が悪い: The machine is working, but something is wrong
  * 機械の具合が悪い: The machine may be broken
  * 調子はどう?: How's it going? / How are you?
  * 具合はどう?: How is your health? / Are you feeling any better?

And there are several set phrases where you can use only one of the two, for
example:

  * 調子がいいことを言う: to sweet-talk; say nice things
  * 調子にのる: to push one's luck
  * その日は具合が悪い: I'm busy that day; It's not a good day for me

