响应

xiǎngyìng: 响应 - Respond, Reaction, Answer

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 响应, xiǎngyìng, Chinese for respond, Chinese for reaction, what does xiangying mean, how to use 响应, 反应 vs 响应, respond to a call in Chinese, Chinese grammar
  • Summary: Learn the versatile Chinese word 响应 (xiǎngyìng), which means to respond, react, or answer a call. This page breaks down its meaning, from supporting a national policy to getting a reply to a text message. Discover its cultural context, see 10 practical example sentences, and understand the crucial difference between 响应 (xiǎngyìng) and the similar word 反应 (fǎnyìng) to avoid common mistakes.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): xiǎngyìng
  • Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 5
  • Concise Definition: To respond to a call, request, or stimulus; a response or reaction.
  • In a Nutshell: 响应 (xiǎngyìng) is about an active response to something external. Think of it as an “echoing answer.” If someone makes a call to action (a “sound”), your 响应 is your “answer” or the action you take because of it. It can be as grand as a nation responding to a new policy or as simple as friends responding to a party invitation.

Character Breakdown

  • 响 (xiǎng): This character means “sound,” “noise,” or “echo.” Picture sound waves (乡) emanating from a source. It gives the word the feeling of an audible or noticeable effect.
  • 应 (yìng): This character means “to answer,” “to agree,” or “to correspond to.” In its traditional form (應), it even contains the heart radical (心), suggesting a response that comes from one's mind or heart.
  • Together, 响应 (xiǎngyìng) literally means “sound-answer.” This beautifully illustrates the concept: a stimulus (the sound) is received, and a reply (the answer) is given. It’s a cause-and-effect relationship, but one that often implies conscious action or support.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • Collective Action: In Chinese culture, 响应 (xiǎngyìng) is frequently used in collective and official contexts. A common phrase is 响应号召 (xiǎngyìng hàozhào), “to respond to a call to action.” This reflects a social value where aligning with and supporting group or government initiatives is seen as positive and constructive. When the government launches a campaign, the news will report on how different provinces and organizations 响应 it.
  • Comparison to “Response” vs. “Reaction”: In English, “response” often feels more deliberate than “reaction.” A “reaction” can be a knee-jerk, emotional, or even chemical event. 响应 (xiǎngyìng) aligns more closely with the deliberate “response.” It's the step you take after a stimulus. While a sudden noise might cause a 反应 (fǎnyìng) (a physical reaction, like jumping), your decision to go investigate that noise is a 响应 (xiǎngyìng). This distinction is crucial and highlights a focus on purposeful action.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • In Government and Business: This is a formal and common term. You will hear it on the news when describing public support for a new law (`响应政策 - xiǎngyìng zhèngcè`) or in a company meeting when a department supports a new initiative (`积极响应 - jījí xiǎngyìng`).
  • On Social Media: When a creator asks their followers to do something (like join a challenge), the participation is their 响应. A post that gets a lot of comments and shares is said to have received a 热烈响应 (rèliè xiǎngyìng), or “enthusiastic response.”
  • In Daily Conversation: It's used for everyday situations, too. If you organize an event and many people sign up, you can say you got a good 响应. If you text a friend and they don't reply, you can say 他没有响应 (tā méiyǒu xiǎngyìng), though the more common word for a text reply is 回复 (huífù).
  • In Technology: It has a direct technical meaning, as in 响应时间 (xiǎngyìng shíjiān) for “response time” of a server, or 响应式设计 (xiǎngyìng shì shèjì) for “responsive web design.”

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我们的环保倡议得到了学生们的积极响应。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen de huánbǎo chàngyì dédàole xuéshēngmen de jījí xiǎngyìng.
    • English: Our environmental protection proposal received an enthusiastic response from the students.
    • Analysis: Here, 响应 is a noun meaning “response” or “support.” It shows that the students actively participated or agreed with the proposal.
  • Example 2:
    • 为了响应政府的号召，很多公司都开始实行垃圾分类。
    • Pinyin: Wèile xiǎngyìng zhèngfǔ de hàozhào, hěnduō gōngsī dōu kāishǐ shíxíng lājī fēnlèi.
    • English: In response to the government's call, many companies began to implement trash sorting.
    • Analysis: This is the classic formal usage. 响应 is a verb showing action taken because of an official “call” (号召).
  • Example 3:
    • 我在群里发了聚会邀请，但半天了都没人响应。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ zài qún lǐ fāle jùhuì yāoqǐng, dàn bàntiānle dōu méirén xiǎngyìng.
    • English: I sent the party invitation in the group chat, but after half a day, nobody has responded.
    • Analysis: A common, informal use. 响应 here means to reply or show interest. The lack of response is the key point.
  • Example 4:
    • 这个新产品的市场响应非常好，第一天就卖光了。
    • Pinyin: Zhège xīn chǎnpǐn de shìchǎng xiǎngyìng fēicháng hǎo, dì yī tiān jiù mài guāng le.
    • English: The market response to this new product was excellent; it sold out on the first day.
    • Analysis: 响应 is used as a noun to describe the market's reception or reaction to a product.
  • Example 5:
    • 这个网站是响应式的，在手机和平板上都能正常显示。
    • Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn shì xiǎngyìng shì de, zài shǒujī hé píngbǎn shàng dōu néng zhèngcháng xiǎnshì.
    • English: This website is responsive, so it can display normally on phones and tablets.
    • Analysis: A technical usage. 响应式 (xiǎngyìng shì) is a fixed term for “responsive” in web design.
  • Example 6:
    • 他敲了半天门，屋里却毫无响应。
    • Pinyin: Tā qiāole bàntiān mén, wū lǐ què háo wú xiǎngyìng.
    • English: He knocked on the door for a long time, but there was no response from inside.
    • Analysis: Here, 响应 means any sign of life or answer, whether it's a voice or the sound of someone coming to the door.
  • Example 7:
    • 病人对新药物的响应很理想，病情有了明显好转。
    • Pinyin: Bìngrén duì xīn yàowù de xiǎngyìng hěn lǐxiǎng, bìngqíng yǒule míngxiǎn hǎozhuǎn.
    • English: The patient's response to the new medication is ideal, and his condition has improved significantly.
    • Analysis: In a medical context, 响应 can describe how the body responds to treatment. It's similar to 反应, but often implies the overall, intended therapeutic effect.
  • Example 8:
    • 他的演讲获得了听众雷鸣般的响应。
    • Pinyin: Tā de yǎnjiǎng huòdéle tīngzhòng léimíng bān de xiǎngyìng.
    • English: His speech received a thunderous response from the audience.
    • Analysis: The “response” here is applause and cheers. It's a vivid way to describe the audience's enthusiastic reception.
  • Example 9:
    • 作为队长，我希望大家都能响应我的计划。
    • Pinyin: Zuòwéi duìzhǎng, wǒ xīwàng dàjiā dōu néng xiǎngyìng wǒ de jìhuà.
    • English: As the team captain, I hope everyone will get behind my plan.
    • Analysis: 响应 here means to support, agree with, and act upon the plan. It’s more than just saying “yes.”
  • Example 10:
    • 服务器响应太慢了，网页打开需要很长时间。
    • Pinyin: Fúwùqì xiǎngyìng tài màn le, wǎngyè dǎkāi xūyào hěn cháng shíjiān.
    • English: The server response is too slow; it takes a long time for the webpage to open.
    • Analysis: Another technical usage, where 响应 is a noun for “response” in the context of system performance.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • 响应 (xiǎngyìng) vs. 反应 (fǎnyìng): This is the most common point of confusion.
    • 反应 (fǎnyìng - reaction): Tends to be more immediate, involuntary, or a general “reaction.” Think of a chemical reaction, an allergic reaction, or your gut reaction to a surprise.
    • 响应 (xiǎngyìng - response): Tends to be more deliberate, a conscious answer to a specific call, request, or stimulus.
    • Example: You hear a fire alarm. Your 反应 (fǎnyìng) is to feel startled and scared. Your 响应 (xiǎngyìng) is to follow the evacuation procedure.
    • Incorrect: ~~我对花生有不好的响应。~~ (My body has a bad response to peanuts.)
    • Correct: 我对花生有不好的反应。 (Wǒ duì huāshēng yǒu bù hǎo de fǎnyìng. - I have a bad reaction to peanuts.)
  • 响应 (xiǎngyìng) vs. 回答 (huídá):
    • 回答 (huídá - to answer): This is used specifically for answering a question.
    • Incorrect: ~~请你响应我的问题。~~ (Please respond to my question.)
    • Correct: 请你回答我的问题。 (Qǐng nǐ huídá wǒ de wèntí. - Please answer my question.)
    • You 回答 a question, but you 响应 a call to action.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 反应 (fǎnyìng) - Reaction. More immediate and often involuntary compared to the more deliberate 响应.
  • 回应 (huíyìng) - To respond, to answer back. Very similar to 响应, but often used more in the context of communication, like responding to accusations or answering a question in a press conference.
  • 回复 (huífù) - To reply. The standard term for replying to an email, text message, or letter. It's a specific type of 响应.
  • 回答 (huídá) - To answer. Used specifically for answering a direct question.
  • 支持 (zhīchí) - To support. A positive 响应 almost always includes an element of 支持.
  • 号召 (hàozhào) - A call to action, an appeal. This is the “call” that one 响应s to, especially in a formal or group setting.
  • 互动 (hùdòng) - Interaction. Good 响应 from an audience is a sign of good 互动.
  • 反馈 (fǎnkuì) - Feedback. Feedback is a type of response, but 反馈 focuses on providing information or opinions back to the source, often for improvement.