Writing Balance Rule: The top bamboo component (竹) sits compactly, while the bottom phonetic part (合) opens up wide to provide a stable foundation.
1. Meaning
to answer, reply, or respond
to return a favor or return a greeting
VerbNeutral#communication#speech#interaction
Sample Usage
请回答我的问题。
Qǐng huídá wǒ de wèntí.
Please answer my question.
他答应了我的请求。
Tā dāying le wǒ de qǐngqiú.
He agreed to my request.
2. Sound
/[ta²²]/Tone: 35
答
dáda2
|
++
´(35)
=dá
Initial Consonant
d
Type: Unaspirated Alveolar
Sounds like: d sound like in English 'do'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: No puff of air. Tissue remains still (sounds like English 't' in 'stop').
Tongue & Mouth Position: Tongue tip pressed against the alveolar ridge behind the upper teeth.
Final Rhyme
a
Vowel Group: -a vowel group
Sounds like: ah sound like in 'father'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ah'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T2 (35)
3 → 5 (35)
2nd Tone (Mid-Rising)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 2 rises from a middle pitch to a high pitch, exactly like asking 'What?' in English with surprise.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse the unaspirated 'd' sound with the aspirated 't' sound; 'dá' should sound closer to an English 't' in 'stow' rather than 'toe'.
👋
Physical Tone Gesture: Start at a mid pitch and sweep your hand upward like an airplane taking off.
3. Writing
Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 12 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The top bamboo component (竹) sits compactly, while the bottom phonetic part (合) opens up wide to provide a stable foundation.
4. Components
Radical竹 · Bamboo Radical (bamboo)
Semantic Clue (形旁):竹 (Indicates bamboo instruments or communication tools linked to ancient records.)
Phonetic Clue (声旁):合 (original sound: hé / dá)
Ancient answers were carved on bamboo strips (竹) that fit together (合) to match the questions asked.
⺮ Bamboo
合 To close, fit, match
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally combined bamboo (竹) with a sound component (合). Bamboo slips were heavily used in ancient China for official documents, questions, and official replies.
Semantic Evolution: Shifted from physical matching of bamboo tally pieces or documents to the general concept of verbal or written replies and answers.
Bamboo slips were the primary medium for writing government decrees and answers before the invention of paper.
6. Sinosphere
🇻🇳
Sino-Vietnamese
đáp
Short entering tone in Sino-Vietnamese corresponding to Chinese checked or short syllables.
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: トウ (tō) / Kun: こた.える (kota.eru)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
답
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
When someone asks a question, you hold up a piece of BAMBOO (竹) that FIT (合) together with the question to deliver the precise ANSWER (答).
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
搭
dāto put up, to buildHand radical (扌) instead of bamboo; using hands to build or put up structures.
塔
tǎpagoda, towerEarth radical (土) instead of bamboo; a towering structure built on the earth.
Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)
合(hé)
Missing the bamboo (竹) roof on top; means 'to close' or 'to match' rather than to answer.
8. Mastery
Active Recall Challenge
老师问了一个问题，全班没有人能 [___] 出来。
Clue: dá
Common Learner Pitfall
Confusing the top bamboo radical (⺮) with the grass radical (⾋), or misplacing the bottom component '合'.
Memory Prompts
Recognition: When you see 答, what does it mean and how is it pronounced?
Production: How do you write the character for 'to answer' (dá) using bamboo and fit?
Real-World Video Context
Watch authentic native speakers pronounce and explain this word in real-world YouTube videos.
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答dáto answer
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