答案

• Reading: とうあん
• Romaji: touan
• Kanji breakdown: 答 (tou/kota) — answer, reply; 案 (an) — plan, proposal, draft
• Pronunciation: /toː.aɴ/

Meaning

Examination paper; answer sheet. The paper on which test answers are written.

A noun specifically for examination answer sheets. Common in school contexts: 答案用紙 (touan youshi, answer sheet), 答案を提出する (touan wo teishutsu suru, to submit an answer sheet), 答案を返す (touan wo kaesu, to return graded papers). Distinct from 問題用紙 (mondai youshi, question paper) — 答案 is where answers are written.

Examples

1. 試験が終わったら答案を前に出してください。 When the exam is over, please bring your answer sheet to the front.
2. 先生が答案を返すとき緊張した。 I got nervous when the teacher was handing back the answer sheets.
3. 答案に名前を書き忘れて減点された。 I lost points because I forgot to write my name on the answer sheet.

Usage Guide

Context: school, exams, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 答 (tou, answer) and 案 (an, plan/proposal/draft). Literally 'answer draft' — the document containing one's proposed answers.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Students

Social background: Universal