xiǎngyìng: 响应 - Respond, Reaction, Answer

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.