应答 (yìng dá) — (noun) a reply, an answer; (verb) to reply, to…

Definition

A formal term for 'reply'/'to reply' in speech or writing. More written and composed than 回答, which is the everyday all-purpose word.

noun

a replyan answer

verb

to replyto answer

应答，。
Tā de yìng dá fēi cháng jiǎn jié, zhǐ yǒu liǎng gè zì.
His reply was very concise, only two words.
应答。
Qǐng jǐn kuài yìng dá kè hù de yóu jiàn.
Please reply to the client's email as soon as possible.
，应答。
Miàn duì tí wèn, tā cóng róng yìng dá.
Facing the questions, he answered calmly.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

'应' means respond and '答' means answer, together giving a reply.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 應; 应 is its simplified writing.

䧹心應

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

䧹

䧹䧹應yìng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 應 pairs 心 (heart) with 䧹 as a sound part; the simplified 应 is a later shorthand and its parts are not the original components.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

竹合答

Meaning part形符xíngfú

竹竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

合

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

答 pairs 竹 (bamboo) with 合 as the sound part; the bamboo top replaced an older grass part by mistake.

Appears in