answer; solution
HSK level
答案 is written with 22 strokes (答: 12, 案: 10). The animation replays automatically.
答案 (dá'àn) is a noun meaning 'answer' or 'solution' — specifically the correct or expected response to a question, problem, quiz, or puzzle.
It is the answer as a thing (the content of a reply), not the act of answering: 正确答案 ('the correct answer'), 标准答案 ('the standard answer'). English speakers should note that Chinese separates this noun 答案 from the verb 回答 (huídá, 'to answer / to reply'): you 回答问题 ('answer a question,' verb) and the result is a 答案 ('answer,' noun). You cannot use 答案 as a verb.
It appears constantly in academic, test, and problem-solving contexts and is neutral in register. The apostrophe in dá'àn marks the syllable break so it isn't misread as 'da-an' run together. For a reply in conversation (rather than a right/wrong answer), 回答 or 答复 is more natural than 答案.
Character by character
Memory hook: 答 (answer) + 案 (case/record) → the recorded answer to a question.
这道题的答案是什么？
Zhè dào tí de dá'àn shì shénme?
What's the answer to this problem?
spoken
老师公布了正确答案。
Lǎoshī gōngbù le zhèngquè dá'àn.
The teacher announced the correct answer.
neutral
有些问题没有标准答案。
Yǒuxiē wèntí méiyǒu biāozhǔn dá'àn.
Some questions have no standard answer.
written
我在书的最后找到了答案。
Wǒ zài shū de zuìhòu zhǎodào le dá'àn.
I found the answer at the back of the book.
spoken
答复 is an official reply or response to a request/inquiry (等公司的答复, 'wait for the company's reply'). 答案 is the correct answer to a question or problem, especially in tests or puzzles.
Acquire it by listening
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