dāying: 答应 - To Agree, Promise, Answer

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• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 答应 (dāying), a versatile word used to say you “agree” to a request, “promise” to do something, or “answer” someone's call. This guide breaks down its core meaning, cultural weight, and practical usage, helping you understand how it's different from “同意 (tóngyì)” and “承诺 (chéngnuò)”. Mastering 答应 (dāying) is key for everyday conversations and building relationships in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dāying (dā ying)
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To agree to a request, promise to do something, or respond to someone calling your name.
• In a Nutshell: 答应 (dāying) is all about giving a positive response to another person's direct prompt. If someone asks you for a favor (“Can you help me?”), and you say yes, you 答应 them. If someone makes a proposal that requires your action, and you accept, you 答应 them. It's an active word of personal commitment, carrying more weight than a simple “okay.”

• 答 (dā): This character means “to answer” or “to reply.” Interestingly, its pronunciation changes from the more common `dá` to `dā` in this specific word. It's composed of the “bamboo” radical (竹) on top and “to fit/join” (合) on the bottom, originally depicting the act of writing a reply on bamboo slips that “fits” the question.
• 应 (ying): This character means “to respond” or “to consent.” The pronunciation here is a light, neutral tone.
• Together, 答应 (dāying) literally means to “answer and respond/consent.” This combination perfectly captures the meaning of actively agreeing to a request made by another person.

In Chinese culture, words are actions, and 答应 (dāying) is a prime example of a verbal handshake. It's not just a casual “sure, why not?”—it implies a personal commitment and establishes a social expectation. A key difference from Western culture is the social weight attached. In English, one might say “I'll try my best” to soften a commitment. In Chinese, once you 答应, you have given your word. Failing to follow through is not just letting someone down; it can cause a loss of 面子 (miànzi - “face” or social credibility) for both you and the person who trusted you. This is deeply connected to the concept of 人情 (rénqíng), the web of social obligations and favors. When you 答应 a favor, you are participating in this system of mutual support, and you are expected to hold up your end of the bargain. Therefore, Chinese speakers may be more hesitant to 答应 a request if they are not confident they can fulfill it, as the social cost of breaking that promise is significantly higher than in many individualistic Western cultures.

答应 (dāying) is a high-frequency word used in various situations, from casual chats to more serious conversations.

• Agreeing to a Request: This is the most common usage. It's the go-to word when someone asks you to perform an action.
  • “Can you pick up a package for me?” “Sure, I agree/promise.”
  • “你能帮我取个快递吗？” “好的，我答应你。”
• Making a Promise: While not as formal as 承诺 (chéngnuò), 答应 is frequently used for making personal promises to friends and family. It signals a sincere intention.
  • “I promise you, I'll call you as soon as I arrive.”
  • “我答应你，一到就给你打电话。”
• Answering a Call (Verbal or Physical): This usage refers to the action of responding when someone calls out your name.
  • “I called you several times, why didn't you answer?”
  • “我叫了你好几声，你怎么不答应？”

Its formality is generally neutral. It's perfect for daily life, school, and the workplace. In highly formal or legal contexts, 承诺 (chéngnuò) or 保证 (bǎozhèng) might be preferred for “promise” and “guarantee.”

• Example 1:
  • 他想请我吃饭，我还没答应他。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiǎng qǐng wǒ chīfàn, wǒ hái méi dāying tā.
  • English: He wants to treat me to a meal, but I haven't agreed yet.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, `还没答应` (hái méi dāying), meaning “haven't agreed yet.” It implies a pending decision on a request.
• Example 2:
  • 你答应过我，要带我去公园的！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ dāying guò wǒ, yào dài wǒ qù gōngyuán de!
  • English: You promised me you would take me to the park!
  • Analysis: The particle `过 (guò)` indicates a past action. Here, it emphasizes that a promise was made in the past and is now being recalled, often with a slight tone of complaint or reminder.
• Example 3:
  • 妈妈叫你呢，你快答应一声啊！
  • Pinyin: Māma jiào nǐ ne, nǐ kuài dāying yī shēng a!
  • English: Mom is calling you, quickly answer her!
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the usage of `答应` for “answering a call.” `一声 (yī shēng)` literally means “one sound,” signifying a verbal response like “Hey!” or “Coming!”
• Example 4:
  • 只要你答应这个条件，我们就签合同。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ dāying zhège tiáojiàn, wǒmen jiù qiān hétong.
  • English: As long as you agree to this condition, we will sign the contract.
  • Analysis: Here, `答应` is used in a more formal, conditional context common in negotiations. It means to accept terms or conditions.
• Example 5:
  • 他很爽快地答应了我的请求。
  • Pinyin: Tā hěn shuǎngkuài de dāying le wǒ de qǐngqiú.
  • English: He readily agreed to my request.
  • Analysis: `爽快地 (shuǎngkuài de)` is an adverb meaning “readily” or “frankly,” often used with `答应` to describe someone who agrees without hesitation.
• Example 6:
  • 我不能答应你这件事，因为它太危险了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù néng dāying nǐ zhè jiàn shì, yīnwèi tā tài wēixiǎn le.
  • English: I can't promise you this, because it's too dangerous.
  • Analysis: This is a clear way to refuse a request. `不能答应` (bù néng dāying) means “cannot agree/promise,” often followed by a reason.
• Example 7:
  • 这是我答应我父亲要完成的任务。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ dāying wǒ fùqīn yào wánchéng de rènwù.
  • English: This is the task I promised my father I would complete.
  • Analysis: This example shows `答应` used to frame a serious commitment or a sense of duty.
• Example 8:
  • 你是不是答应他什么了？他今天特别高兴。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì dāying tā shénme le? Tā jīntiān tèbié gāoxìng.
  • English: Did you promise him something? He's especially happy today.
  • Analysis: A common question format `是不是 (shì bu shì)` used to confirm a suspicion about a promise being made.
• Example 9:
  • 我本来不相信他，但他再三保证，我只好答应了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ běnlái bù xiāngxìn tā, dàn tā zàisān bǎozhèng, wǒ zhǐhǎo dāying le.
  • English: I didn't believe him at first, but he guaranteed it again and again, so I had no choice but to agree.
  • Analysis: `只好 (zhǐhǎo)` means “to have no choice but to,” showing a reluctant agreement after being persuaded.
• Example 10:
  • 答应我，以后不要再做傻事了。
  • Pinyin: Dāying wǒ, yǐhòu bùyào zài zuò shǎshì le.
  • English: Promise me you won't do anything foolish again.
  • Analysis: This is a very common imperative structure, `答应我 (dāying wǒ)`, used to extract a promise from someone, often in an emotional or serious context.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 答应 (dāying) and 同意 (tóngyì).

• 答应 (dāying): Use for Requests and Actions. You 答应 a request to do something. It implies a commitment to an action.
  • Correct: 他答应帮我搬家。(Tā dāying bāng wǒ bānjiā.) - He agreed/promised to help me move.
  • Incorrect: 他答应我的看法。(Tā dāying wǒ de kànfǎ.) - This is wrong because a “viewpoint” is not an action.
• 同意 (tóngyì): Use for Opinions and Proposals. You 同意 with an idea, an opinion, a plan, or a suggestion. It's about mental alignment, not necessarily a commitment to act.
  • Correct: 我同意你的看法。(Wǒ tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ.) - I agree with your point of view.
  • Correct: 经理同意了我们的计划。(Jīnglǐ tóngyì le wǒmen de jìhuà.) - The manager approved our plan.

Think of it this way:

• You 答应 a person to do something for them.
• You 同意 with a thing (an idea, a plan, an opinion).

While you can sometimes use `同意` to grant permission for an action (e.g., 我同意你去 - I agree to your going), `答应` is much more natural when responding to a direct request for help or a favor.

• 同意 (tóngyì) - To agree with an opinion or proposal. The most common point of confusion with `答应`.
• 承诺 (chéngnuò) - A formal, serious promise or commitment. More weighty than `答应`.
• 允许 (yǔnxǔ) - To permit or allow. Implies one has the authority to grant permission.
• 拒绝 (jùjué) - The direct antonym: to refuse or reject a request or proposal.
• 回答 (huídá) - To answer a question. `答应` is to answer a call, while `回答` is to answer a question.
• 要求 (yāoqiú) - A request or a demand. This is often the thing that one either `答应` or `拒绝`.
• 保证 (bǎozhèng) - To guarantee or ensure. A very strong way to promise something, implying certainty.
• 一言为定 (yì yán wéi dìng) - “That's settled then!” An idiom often used right after someone `答应` something important, sealing the verbal agreement.
• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face” or social standing. Breaking a promise made with `答应` can cause a loss of `面子`.
• 人情 (rénqíng) - The currency of social relationships and favors. Agreeing to requests with `答应` is a key part of building `人情`.