答

• Pinyin: dá
• Hanzi breakdown: 答 = 竹 (bamboo) + 合 (match, fit), bamboo slips used for correspondence

Meaning

To answer; to reply.

A basic verb for responding to questions. Can be pronounced dá (to answer) or dā (in 答应, to agree/respond). Common compounds include 回答 (to answer), 答案 (answer), and 答题 (to answer questions).

Examples

1. 老师问了一个问题，他马上就答出来了。 The teacher asked a question, and he answered it immediately.
2. 这道题太难了，我答不上来。 This question is too hard; I can't answer it.
3. 请用中文答题。 Please answer the questions in Chinese.

Usage Guide

Context: questions, exams, conversations

Tone: direct

Do Say

• 你能答这个问题吗？(Can you answer this question?)
• 他答得很好。(He answered very well.)

Don't Say

• 说'答他的话'不太自然——通常说'回答他的话'或'回他的话'，单独的'答'多用于答题 (Saying 答他的话 is unnatural — use 回答他的话 or 回他的话; 答 alone is mainly for answering questions/tests)

Origin & History

Originally depicted bamboo slips used for written responses, combining 竹 (bamboo) and 合 (to match, to fit).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal