对答 (duì dá) — to answer, to reply (often in a formal or structured context)

Definition

Literary/formal verb for 'to answer, to reply,' typically in a structured exchange like an interview, debate, or dialogue — not casual chat. Pairs in fixed phrases such as 对答如流 (answer fluently).

verb
to answerto reply (often in a formal or structured context)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 对答。
    Miàn shì shí tā duì dá rú liú.
    During the interview, he answered fluently.
  • 对答。
    Jì zhě de wèn tí tā dōu néng cóng róng duì dá.
    He could calmly answer all the reporter's questions.
  • 对答。
    Zhè cì biàn lùn zhōng shuāng fāng duì dá dé hěn jīng cǎi.
    Both sides gave brilliant replies in this debate.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

对duìrespond
答dáanswer

对 and 答 both mean to respond, giving answer or reply.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

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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.

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