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March 24, 2026
答复(答復)dáfù(da2fu4)
答复 (dá fù) means to answer or reply, commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin. It is often seen in formal contexts, such as business communications or official correspondence, where a response is required. The term implies a thoughtful response rather than a casual reply.
Frequency#6348DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of responding promptly and appropriately is a sign of respect and professionalism, especially in business contexts. Using 答复 in emails or official letters demonstrates your understanding of this cultural norm.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person confidently answering a question with a big 'D' on their chest for '答' (answer) and an 'F' for '复' (reply). The 'D' can remind you of 'deliver,' as in delivering an answer, while the 'F' stands for 'follow-up,' signifying the importance of replying back.
Meanings of 答复
dáfù(da2fu4)
1to answer
2to reply
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 答复
答复Simplified
答復Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6348Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 答复
Podcast: 答复
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AI Study Notes for 答复
Quick Contrast
回复 (huífù) - use 答复 for formal contexts requiring a thoughtful response, while 回复 is more general and can be used casually.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person confidently answering a question with a big 'D' on their chest for '答' (answer) and an 'F' for '复' (reply). The 'D' can remind you of 'deliver,' as in delivering an answer, while the 'F' stands for 'follow-up,' signifying the importance of replying back.
Usage Notes
答复 is more formal than just saying '回答' (huídá), which means 'to answer.' Common collocations include '及时答复' (timely reply) and '书面答复' (written reply). Pay attention to the tone; it's important to pronounce it correctly as the tones can change the meaning in Mandarin.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 答复 connects with other formal terminology related to communication and response. Focus on using it in appropriate contexts, especially in written forms like emails, as it enhances your formal vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of responding promptly and appropriately is a sign of respect and professionalism, especially in business contexts. Using 答复 in emails or official letters demonstrates your understanding of this cultural norm.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 答复 with 回答, using 答复 in informal situations. For example, saying '我答复他' (I reply to him) in a casual chat is incorrect; it should be '我回答他' (I answer him).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 答复
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Grammar Patterns of 答复
答复 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我未收到任何复函或____。
I have received neither an acknowledgment nor a reply.
Example Sentences for 答复 (10)
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1
我未收到任何复函或答复。
wǒ wèi shōu dào rèn hé fù hán huò dá fù。
I have received neither an acknowledgment nor a reply.
2
你的所有答复都将绝对保密。
nǐ de suǒ yǒu dá fù dū jiāng jué duì bǎo mì。
All your replies will be treated in the strictest confidence.
3
她那更为慎重的答复会受到选民的欢迎。
tā nà gēng wéi shèn zhòng de dá fù huì shòu dào xuǎn mín de huān yíng。
Her more measured response will appeal to voters.
4
他们没等德国人答复就接着往下推进。
tā mén méi děng dé guó rén dá fù jiù jiē zháo wǎng xià tuī jìn。
They went ahead without waiting for a reply from the Germans.
5
请尽早给予答复.
qǐng jìn zǎo gěi yú dá fù.
Please oblige me with a reply as soon as possible.
6
你会在七天之内收到答复。
nǐ huì zài qī tiān zhī nèi shōu dào dá fù。
You should receive a reply within seven days.
7
我把申请书交上去了, 大学方面立即给了答复.
wǒ bǎ shēn qǐng shū jiāo shàng qù le, , dà xué fāng miàn lì jí gěi le dá.
I sent in my application, and the university replied immediately.
8
汤姆·比恩的答复见246页.
tāng mǔ· · bǐ ēn de dá fù246 jiàn.
See p. 246 for Thom Bean's response.
9
他催我作出答复.
tā cuī wǒ zuò chū dá fù.
He pushed me for an answer.
10
我被催着作出答复.
wǒ bèi cuī zháo zuò chū dá fù.
I am pressed for a reply.
Cultural Notes for 答复
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of responding promptly and appropriately is a sign of respect and professionalism, especially in business contexts. Using 答复 in emails or official letters demonstrates your understanding of this cultural norm.
Frequently Asked Questions about 答复
Yes, 答复 is typically used in formal or professional contexts, whereas more casual terms like 回答 can be used in everyday conversations.
While it can be used, it's more common in formal settings; for casual conversations, it's better to use 回答.
答复 and 答覆 are variants of each other, with 答复 being more commonly used in modern contexts.
