The word 调节 (tiáojié) is formed by combining two meaningful characters, each contributing to the overall concept: 调 (tiáo), which carries the core meaning of "to adjust", "to mix", or "to harmonize", and 节 (jié), which adds the notions of "to moderate", "to control", or "a node/segment". Together in this verb-object structure, where 调 acts upon 节, they create a compound verb meaning "to regulate" or "to adjust", specifically implying the act of making careful modifications to bring something (like temperature, speed, or emotions) into a proper, balanced, or controlled state. This formation is a classic example of how modern Chinese frequently creates precise terms by logically pairing existing semantic components.