答

dā, dá
合 + 竹
HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

dá (verb) to answer; to reply; to respond
dā (verb) to agree

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 合 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "small bean". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

The character 答 is a phono-semantic compound structured with the semantic radical 竹 (bamboo) on top and the phonetic component 合 (hé) on the bottom. Its original meaning, preserved in early dictionaries, was "small bean", a sense that aligns with the plant realm indicated by the bamboo radical. Over time, 答 was phonetically borrowed to convey the idea of answering or replying. This borrowed usage became dominant, entirely replacing the original "small bean" meaning. Today, 答 is the primary character for giving a response, offering a solution, or engaging in reciprocal communication.

Example Sentences Hide

请你回答我。

Qǐng nǐ huí dá wǒ.

Please answer me.

老师回答了学生的问题。

Lǎoshī huí dá le xuéshēng de wèntí.

The teacher answered the student's question.

我不知道答案。

Wǒ bù zhīdào dá'àn.

I don't know the answer.

他答应明天来。

Tā dā ying míngtiān lái.

He promised to come tomorrow.

我们需要准备答辩。

Wǒmen xūyào zhǔnbèi dábiàn.

We need to prepare for the defense.

在会议上，他详细回答了所有提问。

Zài huìyì shàng, tā xiángxì huí dá le suǒyǒu tíwèn.

At the meeting, he answered all questions in detail.

对于这个复杂的问题，他给出了令人满意的答案。

Duìyú zhège fùzá de wèntí, tā gěi chū le lìng rén mǎnyì de dá'àn.

Regarding this complex question, he provided a satisfactory answer.

尽管时间紧迫，他还是耐心地回答了每一个观众的疑问。

Jǐnguǎn shíjiān jǐnpò, tā háishì nàixīn de huí dá le měi yī gè guānzhòng de yíwèn.

Despite the time pressure, he patiently answered every audience member's doubt.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

劄

Component: 合

给 拿 哈 恰 拾 盒 鸽 洽 颌 蛤 龛 翕 郃 搿

Component: 竹

第 等 管 笑 算 策 简 笔 篇 筑 符 签 箱 箭

Example Words

回答 答案 问答 报答 滴答 答复 答应 解答 作答 加尔各答 对答 对答如流 应答 抢答 滴答声 竞答 答卷 答问 答对 答理 答疑 答白 答腔 答词