答辩

• Pinyin: dá biàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 答 = 竹 + 合 (to answer); 辩 = 辛 + 言 + 辛 (to argue, debate)

Meaning

To defend (a thesis or position); oral defense. A verb describing the formal process of defending academic work or responding to accusations.

Most commonly used for thesis defense at universities, but also applies to legal defense in court. The person defending responds to questions from a panel of examiners or judges.

Examples

1. 她准备了三个月，明天终于要进行毕业论文答辩了。 She prepared for three months and is finally having her graduation thesis defense tomorrow.
2. 答辩委员会的教授们问了很多刁钻的问题。 The professors on the defense committee asked many tricky questions.
3. 被告律师在法庭上进行了有力的答辩，为当事人争取到了缓刑。 The defense lawyer made a strong defense in court and secured probation for the client.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, legal

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 你的答辩准备得怎么样了？(How is your thesis defense preparation going?)
• 他答辩通过了，顺利拿到了硕士学位。(He passed his defense and smoothly obtained his master's degree.)

Don't Say

• 我答辩了他的批评 (Use 反驳 or 回应 for general arguments — 答辩 is specifically for formal academic or legal settings)

Origin & History

Compound of 答 (to answer, reply) + 辩 (to argue, defend). Together meaning to answer and defend one's position.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated