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. ====== dá'àn: 答案 - Answer, Solution, Key ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** dá'àn, da an, 答案, Chinese for answer, what does da an mean, Chinese word for solution, answer key in Chinese, finding the answer in Chinese, how to say answer in Mandarin * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **答案 (dá'àn)**, which means "answer," "solution," or "key." This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use **dá'àn** correctly, from asking for the answer to a test question to discussing the solution to a complex problem. Discover its cultural significance in the Chinese education system, see practical examples, and learn the crucial difference between **答案 (dá'àn)** and other related words like **回答 (huídá)**. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dá'àn * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A response to a question, problem, or puzzle; an answer or solution. * **In a Nutshell:** **答案 (dá'àn)** is the most common word for a definitive "answer" or "solution." Think of it as the correct response you'd find on a test, the solution to a math problem, or the key to a mystery. It implies a degree of certainty and correctness, as opposed to a simple, casual reply. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **答 (dá):** This character means "to answer" or "to reply." The top radical 竹 (zhú) means "bamboo," which historically relates to writing on bamboo slips. The bottom part 合 (hé) means "to fit" or "to join." So, **答** paints a picture of a reply that "fits" the question. * **案 (àn):** This character means "case," "record," or "legal proposal." The radical at the bottom is 木 (mù), meaning "wood," suggesting a wooden desk or table where official documents are kept. The character as a whole suggests something official, settled, or put on record. Together, **答案 (dá'àn)** literally means the "reply to the case." This combination creates a strong sense of a final, official, or correct answer that definitively settles a question or problem. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While "answer" is a universal concept, **答案 (dá'àn)** holds a special weight in Chinese culture, particularly within its world-renowned education system. From a very young age, students are conditioned to search for the **标准答案 (biāozhǔn dá'àn)**, or the "standard answer." This is especially true for the high-stakes national college entrance exam, the **高考 (gāokǎo)**, where millions of students' futures depend on selecting the single correct **答案**. This contrasts with some Western educational philosophies that may emphasize process, critical thinking, and the idea that some questions have multiple valid interpretations. In the context of **答案**, there is often a strong cultural expectation of a single, verifiable truth or solution. This isn't to say that ambiguity isn't appreciated in other areas of Chinese culture, but when the word **答案** is used, it usually implies a quest for a clear and correct resolution. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **答案** is an extremely common and practical word used in daily life. * **Education and Academics:** This is its most frequent context. Students constantly ask for, check, and discuss the **答案** to homework, quizzes, and exams. * //“老师，第五题的答案是什么？” (Lǎoshī, dì wǔ tí de dá'àn shì shénme?) - "Teacher, what's the answer to question 5?"// * **Problem-Solving:** It extends beyond the classroom to mean the "solution" to any problem, from a technical issue to a strategic challenge in business. * //“我们必须找到这个问题的答案。” (Wǒmen bìxū zhǎodào zhège wèntí de dá'àn.) - "We must find the solution to this problem."// * **Figurative and Philosophical Use:** Just like in English, it can be used for life's bigger questions. * //“人生的答案需要自己去寻找。” (Rénshēng de dá'àn xūyào zìjǐ qù xúnzhǎo.) - "You need to find the answers to life for yourself."// Its connotation is generally neutral and factual. It is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 你知道这道数学题的**答案**吗？ * Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zhè dào shùxué tí de **dá'àn** ma? * English: Do you know the answer to this math problem? * Analysis: A classic and straightforward use of **答案** in an academic context. `这道题 (zhè dào tí)` means "this problem/question," with `道 (dào)` being a common measure word for questions. * **Example 2:** * 请把你的**答案**写在纸上。 * Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de **dá'àn** xiě zài zhǐ shàng. * English: Please write your answer on the paper. * Analysis: This sentence uses the `把 (bǎ)` construction to emphasize the action of writing the object (**答案**). It's a common instruction given during a test. * **Example 3:** * 我对了一下**答案**，发现我错了很多。 * Pinyin: Wǒ duì le yíxià **dá'àn**, fāxiàn wǒ cuò le hěn duō. * English: I checked the answer key and discovered I made a lot of mistakes. * Analysis: `对答案 (duì dá'àn)` is a set phrase that means "to check the answers" or "to compare with the answer key." * **Example 4:** * 这不是我想要的**答案**。 * Pinyin: Zhè búshì wǒ xiǎng yào de **dá'àn**. * English: This isn't the answer I was hoping for. * Analysis: This shows that **答案** can be used for more than just facts; it can also refer to a desired outcome or response in a personal situation. * **Example 5:** * 对于这个复杂的问题，没有简单的**答案**。 * Pinyin: Duìyú zhège fùzá de wèntí, méiyǒu jiǎndān de **dá'àn**. * English: For this complex problem, there is no simple answer. * Analysis: A great example of using **答案** in a more abstract or figurative sense. * **Example 6:** * 他终于找到了解决公司危机的**答案**。 * Pinyin: Tā zhōngyú zhǎodào le jiějué gōngsī wēijī de **dá'àn**. * English: He finally found the solution to the company's crisis. * Analysis: Here, **答案** is used interchangeably with "solution." It implies he found the correct or effective course of action. * **Example 7:** * 别担心，时间会给你**答案**。 * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, shíjiān huì gěi nǐ **dá'àn**. * English: Don't worry, time will give you the answer. * Analysis: A common philosophical phrase used to comfort someone who is uncertain about the future. It personifies time as something that provides clarity. * **Example 8:** * 考试结束后，老师公布了正确**答案**。 * Pinyin: Kǎoshì jiéshù hòu, lǎoshī gōngbù le zhèngquè **dá'àn**. * English: After the exam finished, the teacher announced the correct answers. * Analysis: `正确答案 (zhèngquè dá'àn)` is a common collocation meaning "the correct answer(s)." * **Example 9:** * 他的沉默就是最好的**答案**。 * Pinyin: Tā de chénmò jiùshì zuì hǎo de **dá'àn**. * English: His silence is the best answer. * Analysis: This shows how **答案** can be something other than words. It refers to a conclusive response or outcome. * **Example 10:** * 在书的最后你可以找到所有练习的**答案**。 * Pinyin: Zài shū de zuìhòu nǐ kěyǐ zhǎodào suǒyǒu liànxí de **dá'àn**. * English: You can find the answers to all the exercises at the back of the book. * Analysis: A very practical sentence for any language learner using a textbook. It refers to the "answer key." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is confusing the noun **答案 (dá'àn)** with the verb **回答 (huídá)**. * **答案 (dá'àn)** is a **noun**. It is //the thing// that you give in response to a question. * **回答 (huídá)** is primarily a **verb** ("to answer") but can also be a noun for a more general "reply" or "response." Think of it this way: You **回答 (huídá)** a question to give an **答案 (dá'àn)**. **Incorrect Usage:** * //我不知道怎么**答案**这个问题。// (Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme **dá'àn** zhège wèntí.) * **Why it's wrong:** **答案** is a noun, but here it's being used as a verb. It's like saying "I don't know how to answer this question" in English. * **Correct Version:** 我不知道怎么**回答**这个问题。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme **huídá** zhège wèntí.) **Correct Usage Comparison:** * //请**回答**我的问题。// (Qǐng **huídá** wǒ de wèntí.) - "Please **answer** my question." (Verb) * //我需要这个问题的**答案**。// (Wǒ xūyào zhège wèntí de **dá'àn**.) - "I need the **answer** to this question." (Noun) ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[回答]] (huídá) - The verb "to answer," or a noun for a general "reply." The action that produces a **答案**. * [[问题]] (wèntí) - The "question" or "problem" that requires a **答案**. They are a natural pair. * [[解决]] (jiějué) - A verb meaning "to solve" or "to resolve." You **解决** a **问题** to find the **答案**. * [[办法]] (bànfǎ) - A "method," "way," or "means" to do something. A **办法** is a potential way to solve a problem, while a **答案** is often seen as the single correct solution. * [[结果]] (jiéguǒ) - The "result" or "outcome." The result of an experiment might be your answer, but they aren't always the same. * [[标准答案]] (biāozhǔn dá'àn) - "Standard answer." A term heavily used in education to refer to the officially correct answer in a textbook or on an exam. * [[谜底]] (mídǐ) - The "solution to a riddle" or "answer to a mystery." It's a more specific and literary type of **答案**. * [[高考]] (gāokǎo) - The Chinese National College Entrance Examination, a cultural touchstone where finding the correct **答案** is of utmost importance.