問答

• Reading: もんどう
• Romaji: mondo
• Kanji breakdown: 問 (mon) — question, inquiry; 答 (to/kotae) — answer, reply
• Pronunciation: /mo.n.doː/

Meaning

Questions and answers; dialogue; an exchange of questions and responses. Can refer to formal debate, Zen koan exchanges, or a back-and-forth conversation.

A Sino-Japanese compound noun and occasionally suru-verb (問答する). 問答 appears in varied contexts: formal intellectual debate (問答形式 — dialogue format), Zen Buddhism (禅問答 — Zen koan exchange, suggesting cryptic or circular logic), legal or official questioning, and everyday conversation. 禅問答のような (like a Zen koan) is a very common metaphorical expression meaning something is confusing, evasive, or paradoxical. The term reflects a long tradition of dialogic discourse in Japanese intellectual and religious history.

Examples

1. この哲学書は師弟の問答形式で書かれており、非常に読みやすい。 This philosophy book is written in a question-and-answer format between teacher and student, making it very easy to read.
2. 彼の説明はまるで禅問答で、何を言いたいのかわからなかった。 His explanation was like a Zen koan — impossible to tell what he was trying to say.
3. 委員会での問答を通じて、法案の問題点が浮き彫りになった。 Through the question-and-answer session at the committee, the problems with the bill were brought into sharp relief.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, Zen Buddhism, debate, parliamentary proceedings, literature

Tone: intellectual, dialogic

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 問 (mon) means question or inquiry; 答 (to/kotae) means answer or response. The compound describes the dynamic exchange of questions and answers, reflecting classical dialogic formats in Chinese and Japanese philosophy.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Educated