答える (こたえる, kotaeru) Japanese meaning: answer | Kotomora

答こたえる

こ

た

え

る

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

答える · ichidan verb

Meanings

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

General verb for answering a question, responding to a call, or replying to a message. Intransitive; the thing being answered is marked with に.

返へん答とうN1
返答する is a formal, slightly stiffer way to say 'reply' often used in writing or business contexts, while 答える is the everyday general verb for answering.
回かい答とうN3
回答する is used for formal or official responses (surveys, inquiries, requests), while 答える is the plain, general-purpose verb for answering.
返へん事じN4
返事する is more casual and often used for a simple reply or acknowledgment, while 答える is broader and can be more formal.
応おうじるN3
答える means specifically to answer a question or respond to expectations, while 応じる covers a broader range including complying, accepting, and applying.
返かえすN5
答える is a neutral verb for answering a question, while 返す in this sense implies a quick or sharp verbal retort.

質しつ問もんN5
質問する means to ask a question, the natural counterpart to 答える, which means to give the answer.
訊きく
訊く means to ask a question, while 答える means to answer one, making them natural opposites in a Q&A exchange.
問とい掛かけるN2
答える means to answer or respond, the direct opposite action of 問いかける, which means to pose or direct a question.

Show 2 more

応こたえるN2
応える shares the same reading こたえる but means to respond to expectations, demands, or feelings (e.g. 期待に応える), unlike 答える which is for answering questions or messages.

答こたえるUsage92%
Standard kanji spelling for answering or replying.
こたえるUsage8%
Kana spelling is common in informal writing, but the kanji form is preferred in most contexts.

Derived from classical Japanese 答ふ (kotafu). The kanji 答 carries the meaning of 'answer' or 'solution'.