答える

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 質問に正しく答えてください。▶ —
   Please answer the question correctly.
2. 誰も答えませんでした。▶ —
   No one answered.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Kotaeru (答える) is an ichidan verb — "to answer a question." Takes the particle ni: shitsumon ni kotaeru (answer a question). Distinguish from the homophonous 応える kotaeru "to respond to / meet (expectations)": kitai ni kotaeru (live up to expectations, abstract). 答える is concrete reply; 応える is responsive fulfillment. Cluster: kotae (answer, noun), kaitou (formal reply, Sino-Japanese), henji (reply / response). Business email uses "gokaitou onegai itashimasu" (formal); friends use kotaete! (answer me!). 答える belongs to volitional response; for systems / signal response use ouToku suru (応答).

Quick check

1. Kanji for "live up to expectations"?

   • "Kitai ni kotaeru" with 応 — respond / meet (abstract)
   • "Kitai ni kotaeru" with 答 — wrong (Q-answer only)
   • "Kitai wo motsu" — to have expectations
   • "Kitai suru" — to expect