回应

• Pinyin: huí yìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 回 = 囗 (enclosure) with inner element, suggesting returning in a circle; 应 = 广 (roof) + 心 (heart) + 隹 (bird), to respond

Meaning

To respond; to reply; response. Giving an answer or reaction to something said or done.

More formal than 回答 (answer) and often used when responding to criticism, concerns, public opinion, or official inquiries. Can be both verb and noun. Common collocations: 官方回应 (official response), 积极回应 (positive response), 回应质疑 (respond to doubts), 及时回应 (timely response).

Examples

1. 针对网友的质疑，官方终于做出了正式回应。 In response to netizens' doubts, officials finally issued a formal response.
2. 公司对员工的诉求迟迟没有回应，引发了更大的不满。 The company's failure to respond to employees' demands has triggered even greater dissatisfaction.
3. 记者多次追问，但发言人始终没有正面回应。 Reporters pressed the question multiple times, but the spokesperson never gave a direct response.

Usage Guide

Context: media, official communication, business

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 请尽快回应客户的投诉。(Please respond to the customer's complaint as soon as possible.)
• 他的回应让我很失望。(His response really disappointed me.)

Don't Say

• 朋友间闲聊用回应 (Don't use 回应 in casual chats with friends — use 回复 or 回答; 回应 sounds too formal)

Origin & History

Compound of 回 (return) + 应 (respond, echo). Literally means to return a response.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal