答弁

• Reading: とうべん
• Romaji: touben
• Kanji breakdown: 答 (tou) — answer, reply, respond; 弁 (ben) — speech, argument, dialect
• Pronunciation: /toː.beɴ/

Meaning

Response; reply; answer; defence. A formal answer to questioning, especially in parliament or court.

A noun and suru-verb for formal responses, particularly in parliamentary or legal settings. Most commonly associated with 国会答弁 (kokkai touben, parliamentary answers). More formal than 返答 (hentou, reply) — 答弁 implies an official response to formal questioning or interpellation.

Examples

1. 首相は国会で答弁に立った。 The prime minister took the floor to answer questions in the Diet.
2. 大臣の答弁は質問に正面から答えていなかった。 The minister's response didn't directly address the question.
3. 野党からの追及に対して答弁を求められた。 He was called upon to respond to the opposition's questioning.

Usage Guide

Context: parliament, government, legal proceedings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 答 (tou, answer/reply) + 弁 (ben, speak/argue). Literally 'to answer and argue' — used especially in parliamentary and legal contexts for formal responses.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal