Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xiǎngyìng: 响应 - Respond, Reaction, Answer ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 响应, xiǎngyìng, Chinese for respond, Chinese for reaction, what does xiangying mean, how to use 响应, 反应 vs 响应, respond to a call in Chinese, Chinese grammar * **Summary:** Learn the versatile Chinese word **响应 (xiǎngyìng)**, which means to respond, react, or answer a call. This page breaks down its meaning, from supporting a national policy to getting a reply to a text message. Discover its cultural context, see 10 practical example sentences, and understand the crucial difference between **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** and the similar word **反应 (fǎnyìng)** to avoid common mistakes. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiǎngyìng * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** To respond to a call, request, or stimulus; a response or reaction. * **In a Nutshell:** **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** is about an active response to something external. Think of it as an "echoing answer." If someone makes a call to action (a "sound"), your **响应** is your "answer" or the action you take because of it. It can be as grand as a nation responding to a new policy or as simple as friends responding to a party invitation. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **响 (xiǎng):** This character means "sound," "noise," or "echo." Picture sound waves (乡) emanating from a source. It gives the word the feeling of an audible or noticeable effect. * **应 (yìng):** This character means "to answer," "to agree," or "to correspond to." In its traditional form (應), it even contains the heart radical (心), suggesting a response that comes from one's mind or heart. * Together, **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** literally means "sound-answer." This beautifully illustrates the concept: a stimulus (the sound) is received, and a reply (the answer) is given. It’s a cause-and-effect relationship, but one that often implies conscious action or support. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Collective Action:** In Chinese culture, **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** is frequently used in collective and official contexts. A common phrase is **响应号召 (xiǎngyìng hàozhào)**, "to respond to a call to action." This reflects a social value where aligning with and supporting group or government initiatives is seen as positive and constructive. When the government launches a campaign, the news will report on how different provinces and organizations **响应** it. * **Comparison to "Response" vs. "Reaction":** In English, "response" often feels more deliberate than "reaction." A "reaction" can be a knee-jerk, emotional, or even chemical event. **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** aligns more closely with the deliberate "response." It's the step you take //after// a stimulus. While a sudden noise might cause a **反应 (fǎnyìng)** (a physical reaction, like jumping), your decision to go investigate that noise is a **响应 (xiǎngyìng)**. This distinction is crucial and highlights a focus on purposeful action. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **In Government and Business:** This is a formal and common term. You will hear it on the news when describing public support for a new law (`响应政策 - xiǎngyìng zhèngcè`) or in a company meeting when a department supports a new initiative (`积极响应 - jījí xiǎngyìng`). * **On Social Media:** When a creator asks their followers to do something (like join a challenge), the participation is their **响应**. A post that gets a lot of comments and shares is said to have received a **热烈响应 (rèliè xiǎngyìng)**, or "enthusiastic response." * **In Daily Conversation:** It's used for everyday situations, too. If you organize an event and many people sign up, you can say you got a good **响应**. If you text a friend and they don't reply, you can say **他没有响应 (tā méiyǒu xiǎngyìng)**, though the more common word for a text reply is [[回复]] (huífù). * **In Technology:** It has a direct technical meaning, as in **响应时间 (xiǎngyìng shíjiān)** for "response time" of a server, or **响应式设计 (xiǎngyìng shì shèjì)** for "responsive web design." ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们的环保倡议得到了学生们的积极**响应**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen de huánbǎo chàngyì dédàole xuéshēngmen de jījí **xiǎngyìng**. * English: Our environmental protection proposal received an enthusiastic response from the students. * Analysis: Here, **响应** is a noun meaning "response" or "support." It shows that the students actively participated or agreed with the proposal. * **Example 2:** * 为了**响应**政府的号召，很多公司都开始实行垃圾分类。 * Pinyin: Wèile **xiǎngyìng** zhèngfǔ de hàozhào, hěnduō gōngsī dōu kāishǐ shíxíng lājī fēnlèi. * English: In response to the government's call, many companies began to implement trash sorting. * Analysis: This is the classic formal usage. **响应** is a verb showing action taken because of an official "call" (**号召**). * **Example 3:** * 我在群里发了聚会邀请，但半天了都没人**响应**。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zài qún lǐ fāle jùhuì yāoqǐng, dàn bàntiānle dōu méirén **xiǎngyìng**. * English: I sent the party invitation in the group chat, but after half a day, nobody has responded. * Analysis: A common, informal use. **响应** here means to reply or show interest. The lack of response is the key point. * **Example 4:** * 这个新产品的市场**响应**非常好，第一天就卖光了。 * Pinyin: Zhège xīn chǎnpǐn de shìchǎng **xiǎngyìng** fēicháng hǎo, dì yī tiān jiù mài guāng le. * English: The market response to this new product was excellent; it sold out on the first day. * Analysis: **响应** is used as a noun to describe the market's reception or reaction to a product. * **Example 5:** * 这个网站是**响应**式的，在手机和平板上都能正常显示。 * Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn shì **xiǎngyìng** shì de, zài shǒujī hé píngbǎn shàng dōu néng zhèngcháng xiǎnshì. * English: This website is responsive, so it can display normally on phones and tablets. * Analysis: A technical usage. **响应式 (xiǎngyìng shì)** is a fixed term for "responsive" in web design. * **Example 6:** * 他敲了半天门，屋里却毫无**响应**。 * Pinyin: Tā qiāole bàntiān mén, wū lǐ què háo wú **xiǎngyìng**. * English: He knocked on the door for a long time, but there was no response from inside. * Analysis: Here, **响应** means any sign of life or answer, whether it's a voice or the sound of someone coming to the door. * **Example 7:** * 病人对新药物的**响应**很理想，病情有了明显好转。 * Pinyin: Bìngrén duì xīn yàowù de **xiǎngyìng** hěn lǐxiǎng, bìngqíng yǒule míngxiǎn hǎozhuǎn. * English: The patient's response to the new medication is ideal, and his condition has improved significantly. * Analysis: In a medical context, **响应** can describe how the body responds to treatment. It's similar to **反应**, but often implies the overall, intended therapeutic effect. * **Example 8:** * 他的演讲获得了听众雷鸣般的**响应**。 * Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng huòdéle tīngzhòng léimíng bān de **xiǎngyìng**. * English: His speech received a thunderous response from the audience. * Analysis: The "response" here is applause and cheers. It's a vivid way to describe the audience's enthusiastic reception. * **Example 9:** * 作为队长，我希望大家都能**响应**我的计划。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi duìzhǎng, wǒ xīwàng dàjiā dōu néng **xiǎngyìng** wǒ de jìhuà. * English: As the team captain, I hope everyone will get behind my plan. * Analysis: **响应** here means to support, agree with, and act upon the plan. It’s more than just saying "yes." * **Example 10:** * 服务器**响应**太慢了，网页打开需要很长时间。 * Pinyin: Fúwùqì **xiǎngyìng** tài màn le, wǎngyè dǎkāi xūyào hěn cháng shíjiān. * English: The server response is too slow; it takes a long time for the webpage to open. * Analysis: Another technical usage, where **响应** is a noun for "response" in the context of system performance. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **响应 (xiǎngyìng) vs. 反应 (fǎnyìng):** This is the most common point of confusion. * **反应 (fǎnyìng - reaction):** Tends to be more immediate, involuntary, or a general "reaction." Think of a chemical reaction, an allergic reaction, or your gut reaction to a surprise. * **响应 (xiǎngyìng - response):** Tends to be more deliberate, a conscious answer to a specific call, request, or stimulus. * **Example:** You hear a fire alarm. Your **反应 (fǎnyìng)** is to feel startled and scared. Your **响应 (xiǎngyìng)** is to follow the evacuation procedure. * **Incorrect:** ~~我对花生有不好的**响应**。~~ (My body has a bad response to peanuts.) * **Correct:** 我对花生有不好的**反应**。 (Wǒ duì huāshēng yǒu bù hǎo de fǎnyìng. - I have a bad reaction to peanuts.) * **响应 (xiǎngyìng) vs. 回答 (huídá):** * **回答 (huídá - to answer):** This is used specifically for answering a question. * **Incorrect:** ~~请你**响应**我的问题。~~ (Please respond to my question.) * **Correct:** 请你**回答**我的问题。 (Qǐng nǐ huídá wǒ de wèntí. - Please answer my question.) * You **回答** a question, but you **响应** a call to action. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[反应]] (fǎnyìng) - Reaction. More immediate and often involuntary compared to the more deliberate **响应**. * [[回应]] (huíyìng) - To respond, to answer back. Very similar to **响应**, but often used more in the context of communication, like responding to accusations or answering a question in a press conference. * [[回复]] (huífù) - To reply. The standard term for replying to an email, text message, or letter. It's a specific type of **响应**. * [[回答]] (huídá) - To answer. Used specifically for answering a direct question. * [[支持]] (zhīchí) - To support. A positive **响应** almost always includes an element of **支持**. * [[号召]] (hàozhào) - A call to action, an appeal. This is the "call" that one **响应**s to, especially in a formal or group setting. * [[互动]] (hùdòng) - Interaction. Good **响应** from an audience is a sign of good **互动**. * [[反馈]] (fǎnkuì) - Feedback. Feedback is a type of response, but **反馈** focuses on providing information or opinions //back// to the source, often for improvement.