대답을 하다.
Daedabeul hada.
To give an answer.
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The standard way to say 'to answer' or 'to respond' to a question in Korean.
- Means: To provide a verbal or written response to a specific query.
- Used in: Classrooms, job interviews, and daily conversations with friends.
- Don't confuse: With '말하다' (to speak), which is general, not necessarily a response.
Explanation at your level:
المعنى
The act of responding to a question or query.
خلفية ثقافية
In Korean schools, students are taught to answer with a clear '네!' (Yes!) before providing their actual answer. This shows readiness and respect. Similar to Korea, 'Aizuchi' (frequent nodding and verbal agreement) is a form of constant 'answering' to show you are listening, even if no question was asked. In Western cultures, 'answering' is often more direct. If someone doesn't know an answer, they might just say 'I don't know' without the formal preamble required in Korea. The 'Read Receipt' (1 in KakaoTalk) has changed the meaning of 'not answering'. It is now a social statement known as '읽씹' (Read and chew/ignore).
Drop the '을'
In 90% of spoken Korean, people just say '대답해' or '대답해요'. Keeping the '을' makes you sound very deliberate or formal.
Don't be silent
In Korea, not giving a '대답' is often more offensive than giving a wrong answer. Always say something!
المعنى
The act of responding to a question or query.
Drop the '을'
In 90% of spoken Korean, people just say '대답해' or '대답해요'. Keeping the '을' makes you sound very deliberate or formal.
Don't be silent
In Korea, not giving a '대답' is often more offensive than giving a wrong answer. Always say something!
Use '드리다' for elders
If your grandfather or boss asks a question, use '대답을 드리겠습니다' to instantly sound like a master of etiquette.
The 'Yes' preamble
Always start your answer with '네' (Yes) even if you are about to say 'No' or disagree. It acknowledges the question was heard.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
선생님 질문___ 대답___ 하세요.
You answer 'to' (에) a question and 'do' the answer (을 하다).
Which sentence is the most natural for a job interview?
면접에서 어떻게 말해야 할까요?
'대답을 드리겠습니다' is the formal honorific form suitable for an interview.
Complete the dialogue.
가: 왜 아까 제 질문에 ( )? 나: 미안해요, 못 들었어요.
The context implies the person failed to answer, so '대답을 안 했어요' (didn't answer) is correct.
🎉 النتيجة: /3
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Answering vs. Talking Back
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, they are grammatically the same. '대답을 하다' is the full form, while '대답하다' is the contracted form used more often in speech.
No. For answering the door, use '나가 보다' (to go and see) or '누구세요?라고 말하다' (to say 'who is it?').
The opposite is '질문을 하다' (to ask a question).
You can say '대답이 없어요' (There is no answer) or '할 대답이 없어요' (I have no answer to give).
The word itself is neutral. Politeness is determined by the verb ending (해요 vs 합니다) and whether you use '드리다'.
It's better to use '답장' (dap-jang) for emails and texts.
It means 'to avoid the answer', usually when someone is dodging a difficult question.
It's a 'filler' that shows you are paying attention and respect the speaker's turn.
Not always, but it often implies a short, sharp, or defensive response. Stick to '대답' to be safe.
You can say '대답해야지!' (You should answer!) or '대답해!' (Answer!).
عبارات ذات صلة
답변을 하다
specialized formTo give a formal response
대꾸를 하다
similarTo talk back / To retort
응답을 하다
similarTo respond (technical)
답장을 하다
specialized formTo reply to a message/letter
화답을 하다
specialized formTo respond with a favor or poem
أين تستخدمها
In the Classroom
Teacher: 이 문제의 정답은 무엇인가요?
Student: 제가 대답을 하겠습니다. 정답은 5입니다.
Job Interview
Interviewer: 본인의 장점에 대해 말씀해 주세요.
Applicant: 네, 질문에 대답을 드리겠습니다. 제 장점은 성실함입니다.
Texting a Friend
Friend A: 야, 내일 영화 볼래?
Friend B: (No reply)
Friend A: 왜 대답을 안 해? 바빠?
At Home
Mother: 밥 먹었니?
Son: 네, 먹었어요. 대답 했잖아요!
On the Street
Stranger: 저기요, 길 좀 물을게요.
Passerby: 네, 대답해 드릴게요. 어디 찾으세요?
In a Meeting
Manager: 이 프로젝트에 대해 대답을 해 줄 사람이 있나요?
Employee: 제가 대답을 준비했습니다.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Dad-Up'. When your Dad asks you something, you have to 'Stand Up' and give a 'Dae-Dap' (대답).
Visual Association
Imagine a student in a bright classroom raising their hand high to answer a question on a chalkboard. The word '대답' is written in chalk.
Rhyme
질문이 오면 (When a question comes), 대답을 해 (Give an answer)!
Story
You are at a royal palace. The King asks you where the gold is hidden. You must 'face' (대) the King and 'reply' (답) correctly to save your life. You 'do' (하다) the answer carefully.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Today, every time someone asks you a question (even in English), mentally translate your response to '대답을 했어요' after you speak.
In Other Languages
Responder / Dar una respuesta
Spanish uses 'a' for the question, similar to Korean '에'.
Répondre
French doesn't typically use 'faire une réponse' in daily speech as much as Korean uses '대답을 하다'.
Antworten / Eine Antwort geben
German 'antworten' takes the dative case for the person being answered, while Korean uses '에게'.
返事をする (Henji o suru)
Japanese 'Henji' can also mean a simple 'yes' or acknowledgment, whereas 'Daedap' is usually more substantive.
أجاب (Ajaba)
Arabic verbs change significantly based on the subject, unlike the relatively stable '대답을 하다'.
回答 (Huídá)
Chinese uses '回答' as a single verb, whereas Korean splits it into '대답' (noun) and '하다' (verb).
답변을 하다 (Dapbyeon-eul hada)
Use '대답' for friends/teachers; use '답변' for the press/law.
Responder
Portuguese speakers might find the 'Noun + Do' structure of Korean unique but easy to grasp.
Easily Confused
Both involve speaking.
Use '말을 하다' for general talking; use '대답을 하다' only when someone asked you something first.
English uses 'answer the phone'.
In Korean, you 'receive' (받다) a phone, you don't 'answer' (대답) it.
الأسئلة الشائعة (10)
Yes, they are grammatically the same. '대답을 하다' is the full form, while '대답하다' is the contracted form used more often in speech.
No. For answering the door, use '나가 보다' (to go and see) or '누구세요?라고 말하다' (to say 'who is it?').
The opposite is '질문을 하다' (to ask a question).
You can say '대답이 없어요' (There is no answer) or '할 대답이 없어요' (I have no answer to give).
The word itself is neutral. Politeness is determined by the verb ending (해요 vs 합니다) and whether you use '드리다'.
It's better to use '답장' (dap-jang) for emails and texts.
It means 'to avoid the answer', usually when someone is dodging a difficult question.
It's a 'filler' that shows you are paying attention and respect the speaker's turn.
Not always, but it often implies a short, sharp, or defensive response. Stick to '대답' to be safe.
You can say '대답해야지!' (You should answer!) or '대답해!' (Answer!).
