Keywords: dáfù, 答复, dáfù meaning, Chinese formal reply, Chinese word for answer, official response Chinese, 答复 vs 回答, dáfù vs huídá, dáfù example sentence, HSK 5 vocabulary
Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 答复 (dáfù), a key Chinese word for a formal or official “reply” or “answer”. This page breaks down how to use dáfù in business, government, and other official contexts, distinguishing it from the more common word 回答 (huídá). Through practical examples and cultural insights, you'll master when to use dáfù to sound professional and appropriate in your Chinese communication.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): dáfù
Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To give a formal or official reply, often in writing, to a request, inquiry, or question.
In a Nutshell: Think of 答复 (dáfù) as the word for a “formal response” or “official reply”. It's not for answering a friend's casual question. Instead, it’s used when you are dealing with institutions like a company, a government office, or a university. If you've submitted an application, filed a complaint, or sent a serious business inquiry, the answer you are waiting for is a 答复.
Character Breakdown
答 (dá): This character means “to answer” or “to reply”. The top part is the “bamboo” radical (竹), and the bottom is 合 (hé), meaning “to fit” or “to join”. Historically, official documents and letters were written on bamboo slips. So, “answering” was conceptually linked to preparing a written, fitting response on bamboo.
复 (fù): This character means “to return,” “to repeat,” or “to reply.” It evokes the idea of sending something back to where it came from.
Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 答复 (dáfù) literally means to “return an answer”. This combination reinforces the idea of a formal, reciprocal communication process, where a question or request is officially returned with a considered answer.
Cultural Context and Significance
Hierarchical Communication:答复 (dáfù) is a product of a culture that often emphasizes structured, hierarchical, and official channels of communication. In business, government, or academia, there is a clear process for making requests and receiving official decisions. Using 答复 signals that you are operating within this formal system.
Contrast with Western Informality: In English, one might use the word “answer” for both a text from a friend and an email from a government agency (“Did you get an answer?”). In Chinese, distinguishing between a casual 回答 (huídá) and a formal 答复 (dáfù) is crucial. Using 答复 shows you understand the gravity and formality of the situation. It conveys respect for the process and the authority of the person or institution you are dealing with. This is not just about vocabulary; it's about demonstrating social and professional awareness.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Business Context: This is one of the most common environments for 答复. It's used for replies to job applications, official price quotations, formal complaints, and internal requests that require approval from a superior.
“We are awaiting the purchasing department's official reply.”
Government and Administration: When you submit documents to a government bureau (e.g., for a visa, business license, or permit), the official response you receive is a 答复.
“The embassy has not yet given a formal reply regarding my visa application.”
Customer Service: While a simple query might get a 回答 (huídá), a formal written complaint will almost always be handled with a 答复.
“We will give you a satisfactory reply within three working days.”
Formality and Connotation:答复 is almost exclusively used in formal or serious situations. Its connotation is neutral and procedural. It doesn't carry emotion, but rather a sense of officiality and finality. You would never use it when chatting with friends or family.
Example Sentences
Example 1: (As a noun)
我们仍在等待客户的正式答复。
Pinyin: Wǒmen réng zài děngdài kèhù de zhèngshì dáfù.
English: We are still waiting for the client's formal reply.
Analysis: This is a classic business scenario. The use of 答复 indicates that they are not waiting for a casual email, but an official decision or response.
English: Regarding your request, we will reply to you before next Monday.
Analysis: Here, 答复 is used as a verb. This is a common phrase in customer service or official correspondence, setting a clear expectation for a formal response.
Example 3: (In a question)
你收到大使馆的答复了吗？
Pinyin: Nǐ shōudào dàshǐguǎn de dáfù le ma?
English: Have you received the embassy's official reply?
Analysis: This sentence clearly refers to an official communication from a government body (the embassy). Using 回答 (huídá) here would sound far too informal.
Why it's wrong: This sounds incredibly strange and overly formal. It's like saying, “The teacher asked me a question, and I issued an official response to him.” It creates a bizarre power dynamic.
回复 (huífù) also means “to reply,” and is very common for emails (the “reply” button in a Chinese email client often says 回复).
Difference:回复 (huífù) emphasizes the *action* of replying back. 答复 (dáfù) emphasizes the *substance* of the formal answer itself. You can 回复 an email with a quick “Got it, thanks!”, but a 答复 is expected to contain a decision or a formal answer to the original inquiry. Think of 回复 as “to get back to someone” and 答复 as “to give someone a formal answer.”
Related Terms and Concepts
回答 (huídá) - The most common, all-purpose word for “to answer” or “a reply”. Use this in 90% of daily situations. It's the opposite of 答复 in terms of formality.
回复 (huífù) - To reply, especially in written form like email or text. Focuses on the action of responding. Often interchangeable with 答复 in written business contexts, but can be slightly less formal.
回应 (huíyìng) - To respond or react, often publicly. A company gives a 回应 to media accusations; a government gives a 回应 to a public protest. It’s a response to a situation or statement.
批复 (pīfù) - An official, written reply from a superior that approves or disapproves a subordinate's request. It's a specific, top-down type of 答复.
请示 (qǐngshì) - To ask for instructions or a decision from a superior. This is the action that often prompts a 答复 or 批复.
答辩 (dábiàn) - A formal defense, as in a thesis defense (论文答辩) or a legal defense. A highly specific type of formal “answering.”
反馈 (fǎnkuì) - Feedback. This is information you give back about a product or service. While it is a type of response, it is about opinion and data, not usually an official decision.