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答辩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
答辩dábiànto reply (to an accusation)HSK 7, v, rank #24751, Hard
答辩dábiànto defend one's dissertationHSK 7, v, rank #24751, Hard
dábiàn(da2bian4) T2
  1. 1to reply (to an accusation)
  2. 2to defend one's dissertation
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March 24, 2026
答辩(答辯)dábiàn(da2bian4)

答辩 (dá biàn) refers to the act of responding or defending oneself, particularly in formal contexts like academic defenses. Commonly, it is used when discussing the defense of a thesis or dissertation, where a candidate must answer questions posed by a committee to demonstrate their knowledge and research findings.

Frequency#24751DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese academia, the 答辩 process is a significant rite of passage for graduate students, reflecting the importance placed on rigorous academic evaluation and mentorship.

Memory Tip

Think of 答 (dá) as 'answer' and 辩 (biàn) as 'debate'—imagine a student standing in front of a panel, passionately defending their work like a lawyer in a courtroom, ready to answer any tough questions.

Meanings of 答辩

dábiàn(da2bian4)
1to reply (to an accusation)
2to defend one's dissertation
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 答辩

答辩Simplified
答辯Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#24751Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 答辩

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Podcast: 答辩

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AI Study Notes for 答辩

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 答 (dá) as 'answer' and 辩 (biàn) as 'debate'—imagine a student standing in front of a panel, passionately defending their work like a lawyer in a courtroom, ready to answer any tough questions.

Usage Notes

This term is often used in formal academic settings, so it's important to use it appropriately. A common mistake is to confuse it with simpler terms for 'to reply', which may not convey the same gravity. Remember that the tone should be serious when discussing dissertation defenses.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 答辩 is an important term for advanced learners, especially those in academia. Students should focus on its formal usage and be aware of related vocabulary such as 论文 (lùn wén, thesis) and 学位 (xué wèi, degree).

Cultural Note

In Chinese academia, the 答辩 process is a significant rite of passage for graduate students, reflecting the importance placed on rigorous academic evaluation and mentorship.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 答辩 in casual conversations, where simpler terms like 回答 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我在咖啡店答辩' (I defended my dissertation at a coffee shop) is incorrect; the term should be reserved for formal settings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 答辩

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Component Characters

to answer
HSK 412 strokes
View full entry
biànto dispute
HSK 716 strokes
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Write 答辩

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Grammar Patterns of 答辩

答辩 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 2 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 1

Complete the Sentence

她因受到挑衅而过失杀人的有罪____被驳回。

Her plea of guilty to manslaughter through provocation was rejected.

Example Sentences for 答辩 (1)

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1
她因受到挑衅而过失杀人的有罪答辩被驳回。

tā yīn shòu dào tiāo xìn ér guò shī shā rén de yǒu zuì dá biàn bèi bó huí。

Her plea of guilty to manslaughter through provocation was rejected.

Cultural Notes for 答辩

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese academia, the 答辩 process is a significant rite of passage for graduate students, reflecting the importance placed on rigorous academic evaluation and mentorship.

Frequently Asked Questions about 答辩

回答 (huí dá) simply means 'to answer', while 答辩 implies a formal defense, especially in academic contexts.