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解答 (jiě dá) — to solve (a problem); to answer (a question)

Definition

解答 pairs naturally with a question or puzzle (回答问题 / 解谜), while 解决 takes a problem or difficulty (解决问题) and 解析 is a more technical 'analyze and resolve', often used in math.

verb
to solve (a problem)to answer (a question)

Examples

  • 解答。
    Qǐng bāng wǒ jiě dá yí xià zhè dào wù lǐ tí.
    Please help me solve this physics problem.
  • 解答。
    Tā hěn kuài jiù jiě dá le suǒ yǒu de mí yǔ.
    He quickly solved all the riddles.
  • 解答。
    Lǎo shī nài xīn dì jiě dá le měi gè xué shēng de wèn tí.
    The teacher patiently answered each student's question.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

解jiěanswer
答dáreply

Both 解 and 答 involve explaining or replying, giving the sense of providing an answer.

Characters in this word

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.