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回答 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
回答huídáto replyHSK 3, v, rank #769, Easy
回答huídáto answerHSK 3, v, rank #769, Easy
回答huídáthe answerHSK 3, v, rank #769, Easy
回答huídá>个[gè]HSK 3, v, rank #769, Easy
huídá(hui2da2) T2
  1. 1to reply
  2. 2to answer
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
回答huídá(hui2da2)

回答 (huídá) means 'to reply' or 'to answer.' It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts when responding to questions or inquiries. This verb is essential for engaging in conversations and discussions, making it a fundamental part of communication.

Frequency#769DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, responding to questions is often seen as a sign of respect and engagement, especially in formal settings. Failing to adequately answer a question may be perceived as rudeness.

Memory Tip

Think of a friendly robot that always 'replies' with a cheerful 'hi' (hui) and a waving hand (da). The robot's two components, '回' (back) and '答' (to answer), suggest it is returning an answer to you.

Meanings of 回答

huídá(hui2da2)
1to reply
2to answer
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 回答

回答Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#769Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL1YCTL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 回答

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Podcast: 回答

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AI Study Notes for 回答

Quick Contrast

回答 (huídá) vs 答复 (dáfù) — use 回答 for direct responses to questions, while 答复 is more formal and often used in written communication.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of a friendly robot that always 'replies' with a cheerful 'hi' (hui) and a waving hand (da). The robot's two components, '回' (back) and '答' (to answer), suggest it is returning an answer to you.

Usage Notes

When using 回答, ensure that it is appropriate for the formality of the context. Common collocations include '回答问题' (to answer a question) and '回答电话' (to answer a phone call). Be careful with tones, as '回答' has the second tone on '回' and the second tone on '答.'

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 3 word, 回答 connects well with other verbs related to communication, such as '问' (to ask) and '说' (to speak). Focus on practicing its usage in simple sentences to reinforce understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, responding to questions is often seen as a sign of respect and engagement, especially in formal settings. Failing to adequately answer a question may be perceived as rudeness.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 回答 with '答应' (dāying), which means 'to agree' or 'to promise.' For example, saying '我回答了他的请求' (wǒ huídá le tā de qǐngqiú) incorrectly implies that you agreed rather than just answering.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 回答

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Component Characters

回huíto circle
HSK 16 strokes囗
View full entry
答dáto answer
HSK 412 strokes⺮
View full entry

Write 回答

回
答

Practice writing 回答 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 回答

回答 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons6
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

同学们首先读了一遍课文，然后认真地____了黑板上的问题。

The students first read through the text once, then carefully answered the questions on the blackboard.

Example Sentences for 回答 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
现在可以回答你的问题了，你母亲失望的原因就在这里。

xiàn zài kě yǐ huí dá nǐ de wèn tí le， ， nǐ mǔ qīn shī wàng de yuán yīn jiù zài zhè。

And so, to answer your question, that's why your mother is disappointed.
2
他们所谓的回答不过是表示承认的咕哝罢了。

tā mén suǒ wèi de huí dá bù guò shì biǎo shì chéng rèn de gū nóng bà le。

Their replies were no more than grunts of acknowledgement.
3
警察拒绝回答这对夫妇是否是一起自杀的。

jǐng chá jù jué huí dá zhè duì fū fù shì fǒu shì yī qǐ zì shā de。

Police refused to say if the couple died in a suicide pact.
4
“我现在不能回答你，”他闪避道。

“ “ wǒ xiàn zài bù néng huí dá，” nǐ ，” tā shǎn。

"I can't give you an answer now," he hedged.
5
问他懂哪些英文词，塞姆科先生不假思索地回答：“一，二，三。”

wèn tā dǒng nǎ xiē yīng wén cí， ， sāi mǔ kē xiān shēng bù jiǎ sī suǒ dì huí：“ dá， ：“， yī。”

Asked what English he knew, Mr Semko rattled off "One, two, three"
6
那么有什么她不愿触及的禁忌吗？她毫不犹豫地回答：“政治。”

nà mó yǒu shí mó tā bù yuàn chù jí de jīn jì ma？ ？ tā háo bù yóu yù dì huí：“ dá ：“。”

So is there any taboo she wouldn't touch? Unhesitatingly she replies, "Politics."
7
两个历史问题——你可以随便回答。

liǎng gè lì shǐ wèn tí—— —— nǐ kě yǐ suí biàn huí。

Two historical questions — you can answer them how you like.
8
为获得学位，她回答了10页纸上的81个问题。

wéi huò dé xué wèi， ， tā huí dá10 le 10 yè zhǐ81 shàng de 81。

To obtain her degree, she answered 81 questions over 10 papers.
9
第三个女孩回答的声音最响亮。

dì sān gè nǚ hái huí dá de shēng yīn zuì xiǎng liàng。

The third girl answered the most audibly.
10
那是个罗伊显然无法回答的问题。

nà shì gè luó yī xiǎn rán wú fǎ huí dá de wèn tí。

It was a question that Roy not unnaturally found impossible to answer.

Cultural Notes for 回答

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, responding to questions is often seen as a sign of respect and engagement, especially in formal settings. Failing to adequately answer a question may be perceived as rudeness.

Frequently Asked Questions about 回答

Yes, 回答 is versatile and can be used in both contexts, but adjust your tone and formality based on the situation.