响应

• Pinyin: xiǎng yìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 响 = 口 + 乡 (mouth + echoing valley — resonating response); 应 = 广 + 人 + 心 (to answer, to comply)

Meaning

To respond; to answer a call; to act in support of an initiative or appeal.

Implies answering a public call, appeal, or initiative with concrete action. Common in political, military, and social contexts — responding to a government policy, a patriotic call, or a community campaign. Stronger and more action-oriented than simply 回应 (to reply/respond), which is more neutral.

Examples

1. 广大市民积极响应政府的垃圾分类号召，垃圾回收率在短期内大幅提升。 Large numbers of residents actively responded to the government’s call for waste sorting, and recycling rates rose sharply in a short time.
2. 战时，各地民众纷纷响应征募令，踊跃参军，为保卫家园贡献各自的力量。 In wartime, people across the country responded to the recruitment order and eagerly enlisted, each contributing their strength to defend their homeland.
3. 企业界迅速响应国家的扶贫政策，向多个贫困地区投入了大量帮扶资金与技术支持。 The business community quickly responded to the country’s poverty-alleviation policy, investing substantial support funds and technical assistance in multiple impoverished areas.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, public affairs, community, business

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 公司第一时间响应行业协会的倡议，承诺在三年内率先实现碳中和目标。(The company responded to the industry association's initiative at the first opportunity, pledging to achieve carbon neutrality ahead of schedule within three years.)
• 民众自发响应救灾号召，捐款捐物，充分体现了社会的强大凝聚力与大爱精神。(The public spontaneously responded to the disaster relief appeal, donating money and supplies, fully demonstrating remarkable social cohesion and a spirit of compassion.)

Don't Say

• 响应朋友的饭局邀请 — 响应 implies responding to a formal call or public appeal; for accepting a personal invitation use 答应, 接受, or 赴约 instead

Origin & History

响 (sound/echo/respond) + 应 (to answer/respond) — to echo back; to answer in kind with action

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal