<p>回答: just to answer; </p>

<p>答复: answer with a reply, usually in the form of writing, like a letter, an email, and etc. It connotes that to answer with some sort of attachment, which suggests the answer is a bit formal in some degree.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-22T23:14:03.903Z
2018-05-22T23:25:59.680Z
2018-05-22T23:25:59.680Z
dan
<p>The two terms are very similar. The difference is how the terms are constructed:  答复 is more like "to reply" (v) or "a reply" (n); while 回答 is more like "to answer" (v) or "an answer" (n)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>答(answer/ reply) 复(reply/return)</p>
  
  <p>答复 = 'answer with a reply' or 'return with an answer'  (to someone's question or request)</p>
  
  <p>or simply "<strong>reply</strong>" /answer</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>回(return)答 (answer/ reply)</p>
  
  <p>回答 = return with an answer/reply (to someone's question or request)</p>
  
  <p>or simply "<strong>answer</strong>" / "reply"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>回(return) 复 (reply)</p>
  
  <p>回复 = return with an reply (to someone's question or request)</p>
  
  <p>or simply "<strong>reply</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-22T19:55:23.460Z
2018-05-22T20:51:50.830Z
2018-05-22T20:51:50.830Z
Tang Ho
<p>According to 现代汉语词典:</p>
<ul>
<li>答复</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>回答问题或要求</p>
<p>对问题或要求做出的回答</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>回答</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p>对提出的问题、要求给予解答或表示意见</p>
<p>对提出的问题、要求所作出的答复</p>
</blockquote>
<p>For me both seem to be practically the same. One uses the other in its explanation.</p>
<p>At least for me, it feels that 回答 is a more general word while 答复 is more formal, and usually used when it involves someone superior. But I'm not sure if this is correct.</p>
<p>So I wonder if there is any difference between them, on its usage as verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-22T18:38:50.723Z
users suggest studying the examples supplied by comprehensive dictionaries like bkrs
user6065
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-22T18:56:15.993Z
per comment #1: **回答** 1) [answer; reply; response]
(2) 口头或书面的答复; 对问题、 呼唤、 呼吁或号召的答复; 对意见、 争论或反对意见的答辩; 回信
对正当问题的诚恳回答
(3) 以口头或书面答复
我向你提问时, 请回答我answer; reply; response:
回答问题 answer a question
我考虑成熟后再给你回答。 I'll let you have an answer after mature consideration.
他们必须得到一个要么是要么非的明确回答。 They must have a definite reply， yes or no.
answer; reply
请回答我的问题。 Please answer my question.

 **答案** [answer; **solution** ; key] 对提出的问题所做的解答
练习的答案 问题的解答。
如：「请给我一个正确的答案。」answer; solution;  
练习的答案 key to an exercise
找到问题的答案 find a solution to the problem
那只有一个答案。 There is only one answer to that
user6065
<word-choice><difference>
What is the difference between 回答 and 答复?
# What is the difference between 回答 and 答复?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-22)

According to 现代汉语词典:

* 答复

> 回答问题或要求
>
> 对问题或要求做出的回答

* 回答

> 对提出的问题、要求给予解答或表示意见
>
> 对提出的问题、要求所作出的答复

For me both seem to be practically the same. One uses the other in its explanation.

At least for me, it feels that 回答 is a more general word while 答复 is more formal, and usually used when it involves someone superior. But I'm not sure if this is correct.

So I wonder if there is any difference between them, on its usage as verb.

**Tags:** word-choice, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: users suggest studying the examples supplied by comprehensive dictionaries like bkrs  
> **username_1**: per comment #1: **回答** 1) [answer; reply; response] (2) 口头或书面的答复; 对问题、 呼唤、 呼吁或号召的答复; 对意见、 争论或反对意见的答辩; 回信 对正当问题的诚恳回答 (3) 以口头或书面答复 我向你提问时, 请回答我answer; reply; response: 回答问题 answer a question 我考虑成熟后再给你回答。 I'll let you have an answer after mature consideration. 他们必须得到一个要么是要么非的明确回答。 They must have a definite reply， yes or no. answer; reply 请回答我的问题。 Please answer my question.   **答案** [answer; **solution** ; key] 对提出的问题所做的解答 练习的答案 问题的解答。 如：「请给我一个正确的答案。」answer; solution;   练习的答案 key to an exercise 找到问题的答案 find a solution to the problem 那只有一个答案。 There is only one answer to that  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-22. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

回答: just to answer;

答复: answer with a reply, usually in the form of writing, like a letter, an email, and etc. It connotes that to answer with some sort of attachment, which suggests the answer is a bit formal in some degree.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-22. Score: 2

The two terms are very similar. The difference is how the terms are constructed: 答复 is more like "to reply" (v) or "a reply" (n); while 回答 is more like "to answer" (v) or "an answer" (n)

> 答(answer/ reply) 复(reply/return)
>
> 答复 = 'answer with a reply' or 'return with an answer' (to someone's question or request)
>
> or simply "**reply**" /answer

~

> 回(return)答 (answer/ reply)
>
> 回答 = return with an answer/reply (to someone's question or request)
>
> or simply "**answer**" / "reply"

~

> 回(return) 复 (reply)
>
> 回复 = return with an reply (to someone's question or request)
>
> or simply "**reply**"


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