A1 Collocation Neutre

質問に答える

shitsumon ni kotaeru

Answer a question

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {質問|しつもん}に{答|こた}える to describe the act of providing an answer to someone's inquiry.

  • Means: To provide a response to a question or inquiry.
  • Used in: Classrooms, job interviews, and casual daily conversations.
  • Don't confuse: {質問|しつもん}をする (to ask a question) with {質問|しつもん}に{答|こた}える (to answer one).
Question mark (?) + Speech bubble (💬) = Answer (答える)

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means to answer a question. You use it when someone asks you something and you give them the information they need.
It is a standard collocation used to describe the act of providing a verbal or written response to an inquiry. It is used in school, work, and social settings.
This phrase is the primary way to express 'answering a question' in Japanese. It is a transitive verb construction where the particle 'ni' marks the question as the target of the response. It is highly frequent in both spoken and written Japanese.
While 'shitsumon ni kotaeru' is the standard, learners should be aware of register shifts. In formal or technical contexts, 'kaitou suru' is preferred for written responses, whereas 'kotaeru' is more common in spontaneous, face-to-face interaction.
The collocation 'shitsumon ni kotaeru' exemplifies the Japanese reliance on particle-marked targets for verbal actions. Unlike English, where 'answer' can be transitive, Japanese requires the dative-like particle 'ni' to establish the relationship between the inquiry and the response, reflecting a structured approach to dialogue.
From a cognitive linguistic perspective, 'shitsumon ni kotaeru' maps the abstract concept of 'inquiry' onto a target-oriented path. The use of 'ni' underscores the precision required in Japanese discourse, where the response is directed specifically toward the inquiry. This contrasts with languages where the response might be seen as an object of the verb, highlighting the Japanese focus on the relational nature of communication.

Signification

To provide a response to an inquiry.

🌍

Contexte culturel

In Japan, silence is sometimes a valid 'answer' to a question, implying the question is too difficult or sensitive.

💡

Particle Power

Always remember the 'ni' particle. It is the key to correct usage.

Signification

To provide a response to an inquiry.

💡

Particle Power

Always remember the 'ni' particle. It is the key to correct usage.

Teste-toi

Fill in the correct particle.

先生の質問___答える。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : に

The verb 答える requires the particle に.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

No, 'ni' is grammatically required for this verb.

Expressions liées

🔗

質問をする

contrast

To ask a question

Où l'utiliser

🏫

Classroom

Teacher: 誰か{質問|しつもん}に{答|こた}えられますか？

Student: はい、私が{答|こた}えます。

neutral
💼

Job Interview

Interviewer: 次の{質問|しつもん}に{答|こた}えてください。

Candidate: はい、承知いたしました。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Kotaeru' as 'Co-tell'—you are telling the answer back to the person who asked.

Visual Association

Imagine a student raising their hand in a classroom, and a speech bubble with the answer floating from their mouth to the teacher.

Story

Kenji was nervous. The interviewer asked a tough question. Kenji took a breath, remembered his training, and decided to answer the question clearly. He spoke with confidence.

Word Web

質問答える回答返事聞く解決

Défi

Ask a friend 3 questions and have them answer using the full phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Responder a una pregunta

Spanish uses 'a', Japanese uses 'ni'.

French high

Répondre à une question

French verb conjugation is more complex.

German moderate

Eine Frage beantworten

German does not require a preposition here.

Japanese n/a

質問に答える

N/A

Arabic moderate

أجاب على سؤال

Arabic root system is entirely different.

Easily Confused

質問に答える vs 質問をする

Learners mix up asking and answering.

Remember: 'suru' is to do (ask), 'kotaeru' is to respond.

FAQ (1)

No, 'ni' is grammatically required for this verb.

C'tait utile ?

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