====== dáfù: 答复 - Reply, Answer ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** dáfù, 答复, dáfù meaning, Chinese formal reply, Chinese word for answer, official response Chinese, 答复 vs 回答, dáfù vs huídá, dáfù example sentence, HSK 5 vocabulary
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of **答复 (dáfù)**, a key Chinese word for a formal or official "reply" or "answer". This page breaks down how to use **dáfù** in business, government, and other official contexts, distinguishing it from the more common word **回答 (huídá)**. Through practical examples and cultural insights, you'll master when to use **dáfù** to sound professional and appropriate in your Chinese communication.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dáfù
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb / Noun
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 5
  * **Concise Definition:** To give a formal or official reply, often in writing, to a request, inquiry, or question.
  * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **答复 (dáfù)** as the word for a "formal response" or "official reply". It's not for answering a friend's casual question. Instead, it’s used when you are dealing with institutions like a company, a government office, or a university. If you've submitted an application, filed a complaint, or sent a serious business inquiry, the answer you are waiting for is a **答复**.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **答 (dá):** This character means "to answer" or "to reply". The top part is the "bamboo" radical (竹), and the bottom is 合 (hé), meaning "to fit" or "to join". Historically, official documents and letters were written on bamboo slips. So, "answering" was conceptually linked to preparing a written, fitting response on bamboo.
  * **复 (fù):** This character means "to return," "to repeat," or "to reply." It evokes the idea of sending something back to where it came from.
  * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **答复 (dáfù)** literally means to "return an answer". This combination reinforces the idea of a formal, reciprocal communication process, where a question or request is officially returned with a considered answer.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **Hierarchical Communication:** **答复 (dáfù)** is a product of a culture that often emphasizes structured, hierarchical, and official channels of communication. In business, government, or academia, there is a clear process for making requests and receiving official decisions. Using **答复** signals that you are operating within this formal system.
  * **Contrast with Western Informality:** In English, one might use the word "answer" for both a text from a friend and an email from a government agency ("Did you get an answer?"). In Chinese, distinguishing between a casual **回答 (huídá)** and a formal **答复 (dáfù)** is crucial. Using **答复** shows you understand the gravity and formality of the situation. It conveys respect for the process and the authority of the person or institution you are dealing with. This is not just about vocabulary; it's about demonstrating social and professional awareness.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Business Context:** This is one of the most common environments for **答复**. It's used for replies to job applications, official price quotations, formal complaints, and internal requests that require approval from a superior.
    * //"We are awaiting the purchasing department's official reply."//
  * **Government and Administration:** When you submit documents to a government bureau (e.g., for a visa, business license, or permit), the official response you receive is a **答复**.
    * //"The embassy has not yet given a formal reply regarding my visa application."//
  * **Customer Service:** While a simple query might get a **回答 (huídá)**, a formal written complaint will almost always be handled with a **答复**.
    * //"We will give you a satisfactory reply within three working days."//
  * **Formality and Connotation:** **答复** is almost exclusively used in formal or serious situations. Its connotation is neutral and procedural. It doesn't carry emotion, but rather a sense of officiality and finality. You would never use it when chatting with friends or family.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** (As a noun)
    * 我们仍在等待客户的正式**答复**。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen réng zài děngdài kèhù de zhèngshì **dáfù**.
    * English: We are still waiting for the client's formal reply.
    * Analysis: This is a classic business scenario. The use of **答复** indicates that they are not waiting for a casual email, but an official decision or response.
  * **Example 2:** (As a verb)
    * 关于您的请求，我们会在下周一之前**答复**您。
    * Pinyin: Guānyú nín de qǐngqiú, wǒmen huì zài xià zhōuyī zhīqián **dáfù** nín.
    * English: Regarding your request, we will reply to you before next Monday.
    * Analysis: Here, **答复** is used as a verb. This is a common phrase in customer service or official correspondence, setting a clear expectation for a formal response.
  * **Example 3:** (In a question)
    * 你收到大使馆的**答复**了吗？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ shōudào dàshǐguǎn de **dáfù** le ma?
    * English: Have you received the embassy's official reply?
    * Analysis: This sentence clearly refers to an official communication from a government body (the embassy). Using **回答 (huídá)** here would sound far too informal.
  * **Example 4:** (Negative form)
    * 直到现在，我还没有收到任何**答复**。
    * Pinyin: Zhídào xiànzài, wǒ hái méiyǒu shōudào rènhé **dáfù**.
    * English: I still haven't received any reply up until now.
    * Analysis: This expresses frustration in a formal context, like waiting for a job offer or a response to a formal inquiry.
  * **Example 5:** (Distinguishing types of reply)
    * 他们给了我口头**答复**，但我们还需要一份书面**答复**。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen gěile wǒ kǒutóu **dáfù**, dàn wǒmen hái xūyào yī fèn shūmiàn **dáfù**.
    * English: They gave me a verbal reply, but we still need a written reply.
    * Analysis: This shows how **答复** can be modified to specify the format of the official response (oral vs. written).
  * **Example 6:** (As a verb from an authority)
    * 校长已经**答复**了我们的申请，同意举办这次活动。
    * Pinyin: Xiàozhǎng yǐjīng **dáfù** le wǒmen de shēnqǐng, tóngyì jǔbàn zhè cì huódòng.
    * English: The principal has already replied to our application and agreed to hold this event.
    * Analysis: The principal is in a position of authority, so their response to a formal application is a **答复**.
  * **Example 7:** (Setting a condition)
    * 如果三天内没有得到**答复**，我将采取进一步的行动。
    * Pinyin: Rúguǒ sān tiān nèi méiyǒu dédào **dáfù**, wǒ jiāng cǎiqǔ jìnyībù de xíngdòng.
    * English: If I don't get a reply within three days, I will take further action.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the serious, almost legalistic, tone that often accompanies the expectation of a **答复**.
  * **Example 8:** (As a noun, subject of sentence)
    * 他们的**答复**很不明确，我们不知道下一步该怎么做。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen de **dáfù** hěn bù míngquè, wǒmen bù zhīdào xià yībù gāi zěnme zuò.
    * English: Their reply was very unclear; we don't know what to do next.
    * Analysis: This highlights that the **答复** itself (the content of the reply) is the focus of the sentence.
  * **Example 9:** (Command/Request form)
    * 请尽快给我一个明确的**答复**。
    * Pinyin: Qǐng jìnkuài gěi wǒ yīgè míngquè de **dáfù**.
    * English: Please give me a clear reply as soon as possible.
    * Analysis: This is a firm but polite way to request an official answer in a professional setting.
  * **Example 10:** (Passive voice)
    * 这个问题必须由管理层来**答复**。
    * Pinyin: Zhège wèntí bìxū yóu guǎnlǐ céng lái **dáfù**.
    * English: This question must be answered by the management.
    * Analysis: This shows that the act of giving a **答复** is a responsibility that belongs to a specific, authoritative body.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **The Biggest Mistake: Using 答复 (dáfù) instead of 回答 (huídá)**
    * **回答 (huídá)** is the general-purpose word for "to answer." You use it for answering questions in class, in conversation, or in any informal setting.
    * **答复 (dáfù)** is reserved for formal, official replies.
    * **Incorrect:** 老师问我一个问题，我**答复**了他。 (Lǎoshī wèn wǒ yīgè wèntí, wǒ **dáfù** le tā.)
    * **Why it's wrong:** This sounds incredibly strange and overly formal. It's like saying, "The teacher asked me a question, and I issued an official response to him." It creates a bizarre power dynamic.
    * **Correct:** 老师问我一个问题，我**回答**了他。 (Lǎoshī wèn wǒ yīgè wèntí, wǒ **huídá** le tā.)
  * **Nuance: 答复 (dáfù) vs. 回复 (huífù)**
    * **[[回复]] (huífù)** also means "to reply," and is very common for emails (the "reply" button in a Chinese email client often says 回复).
    * **Difference:** **回复 (huífù)** emphasizes the *action* of replying back. **答复 (dáfù)** emphasizes the *substance* of the formal answer itself. You can **回复** an email with a quick "Got it, thanks!", but a **答复** is expected to contain a decision or a formal answer to the original inquiry. Think of **回复** as "to get back to someone" and **答复** as "to give someone a formal answer."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * **[[回答]] (huídá)** - The most common, all-purpose word for "to answer" or "a reply". Use this in 90% of daily situations. It's the opposite of **答复** in terms of formality.
  * **[[回复]] (huífù)** - To reply, especially in written form like email or text. Focuses on the action of responding. Often interchangeable with **答复** in written business contexts, but can be slightly less formal.
  * **[[回应]] (huíyìng)** - To respond or react, often publicly. A company gives a **回应** to media accusations; a government gives a **回应** to a public protest. It’s a response to a situation or statement.
  * **[[批复]] (pīfù)** - An official, written reply from a superior that approves or disapproves a subordinate's request. It's a specific, top-down type of **答复**.
  * **[[请示]] (qǐngshì)** - To ask for instructions or a decision from a superior. This is the action that often prompts a **答复** or **批复**.
  * **[[答辩]] (dábiàn)** - A formal defense, as in a thesis defense (论文答辩) or a legal defense. A highly specific type of formal "answering."
  * **[[反馈]] (fǎnkuì)** - Feedback. This is information you give back about a product or service. While it is a type of response, it is about opinion and data, not usually an official decision.