Bedeutung
To establish the atmosphere.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The first toast at a Russian dinner is crucial because it 'задаёт тон' for the entire night. It is usually serious and welcoming. Hierarchy is important. Subordinates often wait for the boss to 'задать тон' before expressing their own opinions. Classic Russian novels often begin with a sentence that 'задаёт тон' for the whole book (e.g., the famous opening of Anna Karenina). In big cities like Moscow, 'задавать тон' is often used in the context of lifestyle and fashion trends.
Use with Adjectives
Always try to add an adjective to 'тон' to sound more like a native. For example: 'деловой тон' (business tone), 'дружеский тон' (friendly tone), 'шутливый тон' (joking tone).
Don't use for volume
If someone is shouting, don't say they 'задали тон'. Say they 'повысили голос'.
Bedeutung
To establish the atmosphere.
Use with Adjectives
Always try to add an adjective to 'тон' to sound more like a native. For example: 'деловой тон' (business tone), 'дружеский тон' (friendly tone), 'шутливый тон' (joking tone).
Don't use for volume
If someone is shouting, don't say they 'задали тон'. Say they 'повысили голос'.
The Tamada Connection
If you are at a Russian wedding, watch the Tamada. They are the masters of 'задавать тон'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'задать' or 'задавать'.
Вчера её шутка ___ (past perfective) веселый тон всему вечеру.
We need the past tense, feminine form (to match 'шутка'), perfective aspect because it was a specific event.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose the most natural sentence:
The phrase is used for atmosphere/influence, not for physical objects or volume.
Complete the dialogue.
- Как прошло совещание? - Хорошо. Директор сразу ___ деловой тон.
'Задать тон' is the fixed collocation.
Match the 'tone' to the situation.
If you are at a funeral, what tone should you NOT 'задать'?
A 'шутливый тон' (joking tone) would be inappropriate at a funeral.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Tone vs. Voice
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenВчера её шутка ___ (past perfective) веселый тон всему вечеру.
We need the past tense, feminine form (to match 'шутка'), perfective aspect because it was a specific event.
Choose the most natural sentence:
The phrase is used for atmosphere/influence, not for physical objects or volume.
- Как прошло совещание? - Хорошо. Директор сразу ___ деловой тон.
'Задать тон' is the fixed collocation.
If you are at a funeral, what tone should you NOT 'задать'?
A 'шутливый тон' (joking tone) would be inappropriate at a funeral.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenYes! You can say 'Этот шарф задаёт тон всему наряду' (This scarf sets the tone for the whole outfit).
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
'Задать' is for one specific time. 'Задавать' is for something that happens often or is a general rule.
Both! A song, a book, a weather, or a person can all 'задать тон'.
No, you can 'задать негативный тон' (set a negative tone) too.
Use the dative: 'Задать тон встрече'.
Younger people might say 'задать вайб', but 'задать тон' is much more common and better to learn first.
Yes, it literally means giving the starting note to an orchestra.
Yes: 'Он задал тон'.
There isn't a direct opposite, but you could say 'подстроиться под тон' (to adapt to the tone).
Very often! 'Ранний гол задал тон матчу'.
Yes, using the genitive 'разговора' is also common and correct.
Yes, especially in politics and economics.
No, in this phrase it means 'mood' or 'pitch', though 'тон' can mean 'shade' in other contexts.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Задавать темп
similarTo set the pace
Создать атмосферу
synonymTo create an atmosphere
Повысить тон
contrastTo raise one's voice
Сбавить тон
contrastTo lower one's voice/aggression
В тон
builds onIn harmony with / matching
