Recognize 答 in words such as 答える and 解答; connect each whole word with its reading and meaning.

The idea

Common Chinese-derived readings include トウ. Japanese-origin readings include こたえる・こたえ. Compare 答える (こたえる) with 解答 (かいとう). 答 has 12 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
答えるこたえるto answer
解答かいとうanswer; solution to a problem
答えこたえanswer

Examples

  • その答こたえは違ちがいます。That answer is wrong.
  • 図ずを見みて答こたえてください。Please look at the diagram and answer.
  • その問といに答こたえます。I answer that question.
  • 答こたえがまだ分わかりません。I do not know the answer yet.
  • 先生せんせいが質問しつもんに答こたえます。The teacher answers the question.
  • 解答かいとうをよく確認かくにんしてください。Please check your answer carefully.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

答える uses に for the question or person answered; 答え is a noun. Compare 答 with 合: look for ⺮ in 答.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 答える in hiragana.

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    こたえる

    答える is read こたえる; the whole word means to answer.

  2. Write the reading of 解答 in hiragana.

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    かいとう

    解答 is read かいとう; the whole word means answer; solution to a problem.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿え（こたえ）.

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    答

    答 completes 答え, read こたえ; the whole word means answer.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 答 from memory, and read 答える and 解答 aloud. Make a sentence, then check the readings and meanings.