JLPT N2Spoken and writtenNews, sport, ads

に応こたえて・に応こたえin response to (a request, a hope)

Someone asks for something or hopes for something, and you do it: play the encore, extend the opening hours, win the match they wanted you to win.

アンコールに応こたえて、出しゅつ演えん者しゃ全ぜん員いんが再ふたたび舞ぶ台たいに立たった。

Answering the calls for an encore, the whole cast came back on stage.

地じ元もとの期き待たいに応こたえて、チームは決けっ勝しょうに進すすんだ。

Living up to local expectations, the team advanced to the final.

How to form it

Noun + に応こたえて／に応こたえ

に応こたえ is the clipped one, for news and announcements. As a verb it ends a sentence too: 期き待たいに応こたえたい, I want to live up to their hopes.

Before a noun

Noun + に応こたえる + noun

ニーズに応こたえる商しょう品ひん, a product that meets a need.

Before it: What someone wants from you: 期き待たい, 要よう望ぼう, 希き望ぼう, リクエスト, 声こえ, 声せい援えん, アンコール, ニーズ.
After it: What was done to give them what they wanted.
Where you'll meet it: News, sport, company announcements, and ads: ご要よう望ぼうにお応こたえして, "by popular demand".

In use

住じゅう民みんの声こえに応こたえ、市しは夜や間かんバスの運うん行こうを始はじめた。

Responding to residents' calls, the city started running a night bus.

妹いもうとのリクエストに応こたえて、夕ゆう食しょくにカレーを作つくった。

At my younger sister's request, I made curry for dinner.

多おおくのご要よう望ぼうにお応こたえして、この商しょう品ひんを再さい販はん売ばいいたします。

By popular demand, we are putting this product back on sale.

今こん回かいは皆みな様さまの期き待たいに応こたえられず、申もうし訳わけありません。

We are sorry that we were unable to meet everyone's expectations this time.

A common line in an apology.

Somebody asked, and got it

English "in response to" also covers reacting to an event. に応こたえて doesn't: someone has to have asked or hoped, and what follows gives them that.

Not said: 事じ故こに応こたえて、会かい社しゃは安あん全ぜんルールを見み直なおした。

(In response to the accident, the company revised its safety rules.)

Nobody asked.

を受うけてN1

Something happens or is announced, and someone acts in response. The news says it every day. After a request, it says only that the request set things going.

事じ故こを受うけて、会かい社しゃは安あん全ぜんルールを見み直なおした。

In response to the accident, the company revised its safety rules.

Answering a question is the other こたえる, written 答こたえる: 質しつ問もんに答こたえる.

Close neighbours

に応おうじてN2

Read おうじて. What is done is set by a level or a condition, and changes when that does. After a request it is plain "on request": ご希き望ぼうに応おうじて.

季き節せつに応おうじて、営えい業ぎょう時じ間かんを変へん更こうする。

Opening hours are adjusted according to the season.

に沿そってN2

"Along" a river or a road; "in line with" a plan, a policy or someone's wishes.

計けい画かくに沿そって調ちょう査さを進すすめます。

We will carry out the survey in line with the plan.

Check yourself

1Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

年ねん齢れい（　　）、入にゅう場じょう料りょうが変かわります。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

顧こ客きゃくの要よう望ぼうに応こたえて、営えい業ぎょう時じ間かんを一いち時じ間かん延えん長ちょうした。

In response to customer requests, the business extended its opening hours by one hour.

ファンの声せい援えんに応こたえて、選せん手しゅは最さい後ごの一いっ周しゅうでペースを上あげた。

Responding to the fans' cheers, the athlete picked up the pace on the final lap.

読どく者しゃの声こえに応こたえ、記き事じの検けん索さく機き能のうを改かい善ぜんしました。

In response to reader feedback, we improved the article search function.

市し民みんの要よう望ぼうに応こたえて、公こう園えんの照しょう明めいを増ふやした。

In response to residents' requests, more lighting was installed in the park.