答える
kotaeru[ko̞ta̠e̞ɾɯ̟]
To respond in Japanese is 答える (kotaeru).
The verb 答える (kotaeru) is used when you are providing a specific answer to a question or a problem. Other forms are used depending on whether you are acknowledging a person or performing a formal task.
Meaning: to say something in return (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
kotaeru
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific concept called 相槌 'aizuchi', which are frequent 'responsive' sounds like うん or へえ used to show the speaker you are following along.
- In a professional setting, responding with a simple はい 'yes' can sometimes be interpreted as 'I am listening' rather than 'I agree'.
- Depending on the context, a Japanese speaker might respond to a direct question with a vague phrase to avoid a 'no' answer, as a blunt 'no' is often considered impolite.
Examples in context
- ありがとう！返事してくれて嬉しい。Thank you! I'm glad you responded.
- お返事をするつもりです。I plan to respond.
- 質問に答えるTo answer a question
- 質問に答える。Shitsumon ni kotaeru.To answer a question.
Example conversation
Misaki asks Daigoto a question about his weekend.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、週末は何をしたの？Daigoto-kun, shūmatsu wa nani o shita no?Daigoto, what did you do over the weekend?
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、今は答えられないよ。Gomen, ima wa kotaerarenai yo.Sorry, I can't answer right now.
- 美咲 Misakiどうして？気になるよ。Dōshite? Kininaru yo.Why? I'm curious.
- 大翔 Hiroto後でちゃんと答えるね。Ato de chanto kotaeru ne.I'll give you a proper answer later.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 答える, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
