Question 1

What does 回答 mean in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

回答 (huídá) is a verb meaning 'to answer' a question — specifically responding to a query, exam item, or someone seeking information. Literally 'return-respond,' it captures the back-and-forth nature of Q&A. It can also be used as a noun ('an answer / response').

Two distinctions matter for English speakers: first, 回答 is for answering QUESTIONS, not answering the phone (that's 接电话) or the door (开门); second, distinguish from 回 alone ('to return / reply to a message'). You 回答问题 (answer a question), 回复邮件 (reply to an email), and 接电话 (answer the phone). 回答 takes a direct object — 回答问题, 回答老师 (answer the teacher) — and is often paired with 不出来 (huídá bù chūlái 'can't answer') to express being stumped.

Question 2

How do you pronounce 回答?

Accepted Answer

回答 is pronounced huídá — 回 (huí), 答 (dá).

Question 3

Is 回答 a noun, verb, or something else?

Accepted Answer

回答 is a verb, register: neutral.

Question 4

What's the difference between 回答 and 回?

Accepted Answer

回 alone means 'to return / go back' (回家 'go home,' 回信 'reply to a letter'). 回答 is specifically answering questions. Don't shorten 回答 to just 回 in question-answering contexts.

Question 5

What's the difference between 回答 and 答应?

Accepted Answer

Same 答 character, but 答应 (note: 答 here is pronounced dā, not dá) means 'to agree / promise' (我答应你 'I promise you'). Completely different from 回答 'to answer.'

回答

What does 回答 mean?

Character breakdown

Example sentences

Common phrases with 回答

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Synonyms

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FAQ

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