Chinese word

答应

Pronunciation

Pinyindā yìng

Meaning

  • verbpromise

Example

她答应下周帮我搬家了。tā dā yìng xià zhōu bāng wǒ bān jiā le

She promised to help me move next week.

Illustration for 答应 (promise)

More examples

老板问她能不能加班，她答应了。láo bǎn wèn tā néng bù néng jiā bān tā dā yìng le

When her boss asked if she could work overtime, she agreed.

Core concept

A spoken yes that answers a request and takes on the duty behind it.

Common phrases

  • 答应我dā yìng wǒ

    promise me

  • 答应帮忙dā yìng bāng máng

    promise to help

Similar words

同意tóng yì: Agree to an idea, request, or proposal and accept it as suitable.
回答huí dá: Answer a question or call by giving a reply.
承诺chéng nuò: Give a clear promise to take on a future duty or obligation, often formally.
约定yuē dìng: Make an advance agreement about specific details such as a time or place.

Definition in Chinese

回答并表示接受请求或承担义务，多用于口语。huí dá bìng biǎo shì jiē shòu qǐng qiú huò chéng dān yì wù duō yòng yú kóu yǔ

Word origin

答应 (dāyìng, "to promise or agree") combines 答 (dá, "answer") + 应 (yìng, "respond or accept"), joining a reply with acceptance of what was requested.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may hear "promise" as a strong pledge, but this everyday Chinese verb also covers a simple agreement to a request, so the context shows how strong the commitment is.

Other meanings

  • agree toverb
  • consentverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word