答疑 (dá yí) — to answer questions (in a Q&A context, e.g. teacher, speaker, online session)

Definition

答疑 means formally 'answering questions' in a Q&A setting — a teacher, speaker, or host fielding audience questions. Unlike casual 回答, it implies an organized session (答疑课, 在线答疑), often a set-aside time for clarifying doubts.

verb
to answer questions (in a Q&A context, e.g. teacher, speaker, online session)

Examples

  • 答疑。
    Lǎo shī zhèng zài gěi tóng xué men dá yí.
    The teacher is answering questions for the students.
  • 答疑。
    Zài xiàn dá yí shí jiān dìng zài měi zhōu sān xià wǔ.
    The online Q&A session is scheduled for every Wednesday afternoon.
  • 。
    Lǎo shī měi táng kè dōu yào dá hěn duō yí.
    The teacher has to answer many questions in every class.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

答dáanswer
疑yídoubt

'答' means answer and '疑' means doubts, so together they mean answering questions.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
合
合hé答dá
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.

Open 答 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 大大dàstanding human figure
  • 夂夂zhǐtilted head with open mouth
  • 丨丨gǔncane

疑 depicts a standing figure 大 with a tilted, open-mouthed head 夂 and a cane 丨, a confused person looking around for direction.

Open 疑 →

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