応答 30초 만에
- Outou is a formal noun meaning 'response' or 'reply', primarily used in technical, professional, and systematic contexts rather than casual social ones.
- It is frequently seen in IT (server response), emergency services (radio calls), and scientific research (reaction to stimuli) to denote a functional feedback loop.
- Unlike 'henji' (social reply) or 'kaitou' (answer to a problem), 'outou' focuses on the act of signaling back or acknowledging a prompt.
- As a suru-verb, 'outou suru' means to provide a systematic response, often required by protocol or the functional nature of the interaction.
The Japanese word 応答 (おうとう - outou) is a sophisticated noun that primarily translates to 'response' or 'reply' in English, but with a specific technical and formal weight. Unlike the common word henji (返事), which you might use when your mother calls your name, 応答 implies a systematic or functional reaction to a stimulus, signal, or inquiry. It is the 'ping' back from a server, the 'copy that' from a radio operator, or the formal 'response' in a legal or official proceeding. At its core, it represents the completion of a communication loop where an input has been acknowledged and addressed.
- Technical Definition
- The act of a system or individual returning a signal or answer to a specific prompt or request.
- Linguistic Nuance
- Highly objective and functional; it focuses on the mechanism of responding rather than the emotional content of the answer.
- Kanji Breakdown
- 応 (Respond/Accept) + 答 (Answer/Solution) = A structured response to a demand.
緊急車両からの応答がありません。
(There is no response from the emergency vehicle.)
サーバーが応答を停止しました。
(The server has stopped responding.)
When analyzing the word 応答, one must consider its architectural role in Japanese. It is a suru-verb noun, meaning it can function as an action (応答する). This action is rarely casual. You would not 'outou' to a friend's text message about lunch; that would sound like you are an automated bot. Instead, you 'outou' when you are operating a radio in the mountains, when you are a customer support agent following a script, or when you are a scientist observing how a cell reacts to a chemical stimulus. The word carries an air of precision and reliability.
呼び出しに対して直ちに応答してください。
(Please respond immediately to the call.)
- Usage Frequency
- Common in IT, aviation, emergency services, and academic papers.
- Formality Level
- High. Used in manuals, news reports, and professional environments.
Using 応答 (outou) correctly requires understanding its role as a functional response. It is most frequently used in three distinct domains: Technology, Professional Communication (Radio/Emergency), and Academic/Formal writing. To use it as a verb, simply add suru (応答する).
1. Technical Contexts (IT and Systems)
In the world of computers, 応答 is the standard term for a system's reaction. You will see it in error messages like 'Application not responding' (アプリが応答していません). It is also used to describe the speed of a system.
- 応答時間 (Outou Jikan)
- Response time. The time it takes for a system to react to an input.
- 無応答 (Mu-outou)
- No response. Often used when a device fails to acknowledge a signal.
2. Radio and Emergency Communication
When using a walkie-talkie or radio, 応答 is the formal word for 'answering' the call. It replaces the more casual henji to maintain professional decorum and clarity.
「本部より各局、応答せよ。」
(Headquarters to all units: Respond.)
3. Formal Inquiries
In a courtroom or a formal interview, a witness might be asked to 'respond' to a question. Here, 応答 suggests a structured, official answer.
In summary, use 応答 when the response is part of a process, a system, or a professional protocol. Avoid using it in casual conversations with friends unless you are joking about being a robot.
You are likely to encounter 応答 in environments where efficiency and precision are prioritized over social warmth. Here are the most common places you will hear or see this word:
- Operating Systems: When your computer freezes, the dialog box will say 'プログラムが応答していません' (The program is not responding).
- News Broadcasts: During a disaster report, a reporter might say '被災地からの応答が途絶えています' (Responses from the disaster area have been cut off).
- Police/Medical Dramas: You will hear characters shouting into radios: '応答願います！' (Please respond!) or '応答あり！' (Response received!).
- Science Labs: Researchers talk about '刺激に対する応答' (Response to a stimulus) when discussing biological or chemical reactions.
- Customer Service Centers: Managers track the '応答率' (Outou-ritsu), which is the 'call response rate' or the percentage of calls answered by staff.
自動応答システムにより、24時間対応可能です。
(Through an automated response system, we are available 24 hours a day.)
In the context of AI and Chatbots, 応答 is the standard term for the AI's output. If you look at the settings of a Japanese chatbot, you'll see '応答設定' (Response Settings). This reinforces the idea that 応答 is a generated, functional output rather than a personal, human 'reply'.
The most frequent mistake learners make with 応答 is using it in social situations where 返事 (henji) or 回答 (kaitou) would be more appropriate. Because 応答 is technical, using it with friends can sound cold or bizarrely robotic.
- Mistake 1: Casual Conversation
- ❌ 友達にメールの応答をした。
✅ 友達にメールの返事をした。
Explanation: 'Outou' sounds like you are a server replying to a data packet, not a friend replying to a text. - Mistake 2: Answering a Test Question
- ❌ テストの質問に応答する。
✅ テストの質問に回答する。
Explanation: 'Kaitou' (回答) is specifically for 'answering' or 'solving' a question. 'Outou' is just the act of responding.
Another mistake is confusing 応答 with 反応 (hannou). While hannou means 'reaction' (like a chemical reaction or a person's reaction to a joke), 応答 specifically requires a 'return' of information or a signal. A 'reaction' can be passive, but a 'response' (outou) is an active return.
Japanese has many words for 'answering'. Understanding the nuances between them will elevate your fluency. Here is how 応答 compares to its synonyms:
- 返事 (Henji)
- The most common word for 'reply'. Used for daily conversation, answering a name call, or replying to a letter. It is personal and social.
- 回答 (Kaitou)
- Used for 'answering' a survey, a test, or a specific inquiry. It implies providing information that was requested.
- 返答 (Hentou)
- A formal version of henji. It focuses on the content of the answer given to a question. It is more human-centric than outou.
- 反応 (Hannou)
- Reaction. This is broader than outou. It can be a physical reaction (a rash), a chemical reaction, or an emotional reaction. It doesn't necessarily involve a 'reply'.
- 対応 (Taiou)
- Correspondence or handling. This refers to how one deals with a situation or a person. For example, 'customer service' is kyakusaku-taiou.
彼は私の問いかけに何の応答も示さなかった。
(He showed no response to my questioning.)
Choosing the right word depends on whether you are focusing on the social connection (返事), the information provided (回答), or the functional signal (応答).
How Formal Is It?
난이도
알아야 할 문법
Particle 'ni' for targets of response
Compound nouns (Jidou + Outou)
Suru-verb mechanics
Noun-modifying clauses (Outou suru kikai)
Negative existence (Outou ga nai)
수준별 예문
応答がありません。
There is no response.
Noun + ga arimasen (There is no...)
はい、応答します。
Yes, I will respond.
Suru-verb in polite form.
応答はどこですか？
Where is the response?
Simple question structure.
すぐに応答してください。
Please respond immediately.
Te-kudasai (Request form).
これは自動応答です。
This is an automatic response.
Compound noun: Jidou (auto) + outou.
応答を待ちます。
I will wait for a response.
Object marker 'o' + verb 'machimasu'.
応答がないですね。
There's no response, is there?
Sentence ending particle 'ne' for agreement.
名前を呼んでも応答がない。
There is no response even if I call the name.
Te-mo (Even if) + negative existence.
サーバーからの応答が遅いです。
The response from the server is slow.
Kara (from) + possessive 'no'.
無線で応答を確認しました。
I confirmed the response via radio.
De (means/method) + object + verb.
彼は私の呼びかけに応答した。
He responded to my call.
Ni (target) + outou shita (past tense).
このボタンは応答しません。
This button does not respond.
Negative form of suru-verb.
緊急の応答が必要です。
An emergency response is necessary.
Noun + ga hitsuyou desu.
応答時間を短くしたいです。
I want to shorten the response time.
Tai form (want to) + verb.
システムが応答を返しました。
The system returned a response.
Object 'o' + kaeshita (returned).
誰からも応答が得られなかった。
No response was obtained from anyone.
Dare kara mo (from anyone) + negative potential/passive.
自動応答メールを設定しました。
I set up an auto-reply email.
Compound noun + object + verb.
刺激に対する応答を観察する。
Observe the response to the stimulus.
Ni taishite (towards/to) + noun.
呼び出し音は鳴るが、応答がない。
The phone rings, but there is no response.
Ga (but) connecting two clauses.
速やかな応答が求められています。
A prompt response is being requested.
Passive voice: motomerarete imasu.
その質問には応答を控えさせていただきます。
I will refrain from responding to that question.
Hikaeru (refrain) + humble causative.
応答率を向上させることが目標です。
The goal is to improve the response rate.
Koto (nominalizer) + desu.
センサーが熱に応答してアラームが鳴った。
The sensor responded to the heat and the alarm rang.
Te-form for cause and effect.
彼は一言も応答せずに立ち去った。
He left without responding a single word.
Zu ni (without doing).
プログラムがフリーズして応答を停止した。
The program froze and stopped responding.
Te-form connecting actions.
相手の応答を待ってから発言してください。
Please speak after waiting for the other party's response.
Te-kara (after doing).
この機器は音声に応答する機能がある。
This device has a function to respond to voice.
Noun-modifying clause.
救助隊は生存者からの応答を確認した。
The rescue team confirmed a response from a survivor.
Kara no (from) modifying a noun.
市場の変動に迅速に応答する必要がある。
It is necessary to respond quickly to market fluctuations.
Adverbial use: jinshoku ni (quickly).
彼の態度は、私の問いに対する応答だった。
His attitude was a response to my question.
Noun + datta (was).
通信環境が悪く、応答が途切れがちだ。
The communication environment is poor, and responses tend to be intermittent.
Gachi (tendency to).
そのシステムは複数の要求に同時応答できる。
The system can respond to multiple requests simultaneously.
Doushi (simultaneous) + outou.
その細胞は特定の化学物質にのみ応答を示す。
The cell shows a response only to specific chemical substances.
Nomi (only) + object + verb.
政府の不誠実な応答が国民の怒りを買った。
The government's insincere response incurred the public's anger.
Idiom: ikari o kau (to incur anger).
心理学的な刺激と応答の連鎖を分析する。
Analyze the chain of psychological stimulus and response.
Compound noun phrase.
彼は沈黙をもって私の提案に応答した。
He responded to my proposal with silence.
Motte (by means of/with).
災害時の初動応答が被害の大きさを左右する。
The initial response during a disaster determines the extent of the damage.
Shodou-outou (initial response).
この論文は、先行研究に対する一つの応答である。
This paper is a response to previous research.
Formal copula 'de aru'.
機械的な応答に終始し、対話にはならなかった。
It ended up being nothing but mechanical responses and didn't become a dialogue.
Ni shuushi suru (to do nothing but).
サーバーの応答特性を詳細に調査した。
Investigated the server's response characteristics in detail.
Outou-tokusei (response characteristics).
宇宙の深淵からの微かな応答を待ち続ける。
Continue to wait for a faint response from the depths of space.
V-stem + tsuzukeru (continue to).
その詩は、失われた時代への悲劇的な応答だ。
The poem is a tragic response to a lost era.
Metaphorical usage.
法廷での被告の応答は、極めて慎重であった。
The defendant's responses in court were extremely cautious.
Kiwamete (extremely) + adjective.
神経系の応答速度は、加齢とともに低下する。
The response speed of the nervous system decreases with age.
To tomo ni (along with).
彼は自身の内なる声に応答するかのように頷いた。
He nodded as if responding to his own inner voice.
Ka no you ni (as if).
システム設計において、例外処理への応答は不可欠だ。
In system design, responding to exception handling is essential.
Fukaketsu (indispensable).
歴史の呼びかけに対する我々の応答が問われている。
Our response to the call of history is being questioned.
Passive voice 'towarete iru'.
即時応答を前提とした通信プロトコルを開発する。
Develop a communication protocol based on the premise of immediate response.
O zentei to shita (based on the premise of).
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
자주 혼동되는 단어
Henji is for personal/social replies; Outou is for technical/functional ones.
Kaitou is for answering a specific question/problem; Outou is for the act of responding to a signal.
Hannou is a reaction (can be passive); Outou is a response (active signal back).
관용어 및 표현
혼동하기 쉬운
문장 패턴
어휘 가족
관련
사용법
Outou is functional; Henji is social.
In radio talk, 'Outou!' can be a command on its own.
Standard term for 'Response' in Japanese UI/UX.
- Using 'outou' for a friend's greeting.
- Confusing 'outou' (response) with 'outai' (receiving guests).
- Forgetting the 'u' at the end (saying 'oto' instead of 'outou').
- Using 'outou' to mean 'solving a math problem' (use 'kaitou').
- Using 'outou' for an emotional reaction (use 'hannou').
팁
IT Context
Always use 'outou' when translating 'Response' in software development.
Avoid Casual Use
Don't say 'outou' to your teacher; say 'henji' or 'kaitou'.
Radio Lingo
In emergencies, 'Outou!' is the standard command to get someone to answer the radio.
Particle Choice
Use 'ni' to indicate what you are responding to.
Error Messages
If you see '応答' on a screen, something is likely frozen or waiting for input.
Call Centers
Learn 'outou-ritsu' (response rate) if you work in customer service.
Biology
Use 'outou' for 'response' in 'stimulus-response' (shigeki-outou).
Formal Reports
Use 'outou' to sound more objective and professional in your writing.
Anime/Dramas
Listen for this word in sci-fi or police shows to hear its natural technical cadence.
Robot Voice
Imagine a robot saying 'Outou' to help you remember its mechanical nuance.
암기하기
기억법
Imagine an **OU**tput that is **TOU**gh to get. That's a formal **OUTOU** (Response).
어원
문화적 맥락
The '24-hour rule' for business 'outou' is a common standard in Japanese corporate culture.
In Japan, radio communication follows strict protocols where 'outou' is mandatory to ensure safety.
The 119 emergency line uses 'outou' to track the status of dispatched units.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
대화 시작하기
"このアプリ、全然応答しないんだけど、どうすればいい？ (This app isn't responding at all, what should I do?)"
"無線機の応答テストをしましょう。 (Let's do a radio response test.)"
"自動応答メールの設定方法を知っていますか？ (Do you know how to set up an auto-reply email?)"
"最近、サーバーの応答が遅くないですか？ (Hasn't the server response been slow lately?)"
"彼に呼びかけたけど、何の応答もなかったよ。 (I called out to him, but there was no response.)"
일기 주제
Describe a time when you were waiting for an important response (outou) and it didn't come.
Write about how technology has changed the speed of our daily responses.
Imagine you are a radio operator in a sci-fi movie. Write a log using the word 'outou'.
Reflect on the difference between a human 'henji' and a machine 'outou'.
Discuss the importance of 'shodou-outou' (initial response) in crisis management.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Usually no. Use 'henji' for text messages. 'Outou' would make you sound like a computer.
It is formal and professional, but not necessarily 'polite' in a social sense. It is objective.
It means 'response time', commonly used in IT to measure how fast a server reacts.
Yes, it typically appears at the N2 level, though its technical use is common at all levels.
In a scientific context (responding to a whistle), yes. In a pet context, 'henji' is better.
It means 'no response' or 'non-responsive', often used in medical or technical contexts.
You say 'Apuri ga outou shite imasen'.
Yes, for formal responses to legal questioning.
It is an 'automatic response', like an out-of-office email or a chatbot.
Yes, but usually to describe the act of the phone being answered (e.g., 'outou-ritsu' for call centers).
셀프 테스트 180 질문
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
応答 (outou) is your go-to word for 'response' when dealing with technology, professional radio communication, or formal systems. It signifies a functional acknowledgement or reaction to a signal, distinguishing itself from casual replies by its objective and systematic nature.
- Outou is a formal noun meaning 'response' or 'reply', primarily used in technical, professional, and systematic contexts rather than casual social ones.
- It is frequently seen in IT (server response), emergency services (radio calls), and scientific research (reaction to stimuli) to denote a functional feedback loop.
- Unlike 'henji' (social reply) or 'kaitou' (answer to a problem), 'outou' focuses on the act of signaling back or acknowledging a prompt.
- As a suru-verb, 'outou suru' means to provide a systematic response, often required by protocol or the functional nature of the interaction.
IT Context
Always use 'outou' when translating 'Response' in software development.
Avoid Casual Use
Don't say 'outou' to your teacher; say 'henji' or 'kaitou'.
Radio Lingo
In emergencies, 'Outou!' is the standard command to get someone to answer the radio.
Particle Choice
Use 'ni' to indicate what you are responding to.
예시
呼びかけに応答します。
관련 콘텐츠
관련 표현
Communication 관련 단어
謝罪
A1실수나 잘못에 대한 공식적인 사과나 유감의 표현. 주로 전문적이거나 공식적인 상황에서 잘못을 인정할 때 사용됩니다.
口論
A1말씨름이나 말다툼. 의견 차이로 인해 말로 싸우는 것.
仮定
A1논리나 추론을 위해 어떤 사실을 잠정적으로 참이라고 설정하는 일. 가정.
注意
A1주의 또는 조심. '차를 주의하세요' (車に注意してください)와 '선생님께 주의를 받았다' (先生に注意された).
雑談
A1특별한 목적 없이 일상적인 주제로 나누는 가벼운 대화.
世間話
A1세켄바나시는 일상 생활이나 뉴스에 대한 가벼운 대화, 즉 '잡담'을 의미합니다.
通信
A1정보나 신호를 멀리 전달하는 것. 인터넷, 전화, 우편 등의 수단을 통해 데이터나 메시지를 주고받는 것을 말합니다.
構想
A1앞으로 하려는 일에 대하여 그 내용이나 규모, 방법 따위를 생각하여 짜는 것.
確認
B1정보를 확인하거나 검증하는 행위.
連絡
A1연락(Renraku)은 정보를 전달하기 위해 상대방에게 알리는 것을 의미합니다. 전화나 이메일 등을 통해 소식을 전할 때 사용됩니다.
