答应

• Pinyin: dā ying
• Hanzi breakdown: 答 = 竹 (bamboo) + 合 (to fit) — a reply that fits the question; 应 = response, agreement

Meaning

To agree; to promise; to respond to someone calling. Can mean consenting to a request or answering when called.

Has two main uses: to agree or promise to do something, and to answer or respond when someone calls your name. Both uses are very common in daily life.

Examples

1. 他答应明天来帮我搬家。 He agreed to come help me move tomorrow.
2. 妈妈叫了你好几次，你怎么不答应？ Mum called you several times — why didn't you respond?
3. 老板答应给他加工资了。 The boss agreed to give him a raise.

Usage Guide

Context: promises, agreements, responding

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我答应你了。(I promise you.)
• 他答应帮我这个忙。(He agreed to help me with this.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆答应和回答 — 答应 means to agree or to respond to a call, while 回答 means to answer a specific question.

Origin & History

Compound of 答 (to answer, to reply) and 应 (to respond, to agree). Together they combine the ideas of responding and consenting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal