応える|こたえるkotaeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations)occ. written as 報える
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto affect; to take a toll; to strike home; to have an effect on; to be hard on someone (e.g. heat, cold, work, illness, etc.); to be a strainocc. written as 徹えるそれは彼の身に応えだした。↗It is beginning to tell on him.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 応える（こたえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 応えます（こたえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 応えない（こたえない） |
| polite (masen) | 応えません（こたえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 応えず・応えぬ（こたえず・こたえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 応えた（こたえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 応えました（こたえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 応えなかった（こたえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 応えませんでした（こたえませんでした） |
| Te form | 応えて（こたえて） |
| Potential | 応えられる（こたえられる） |
| Passive | 応えられる（こたえられる） |
| Causative | 応えさせる（こたえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 応えさせられる（こたえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 応えれば（こたえれば） |
| tara | 応えたら（こたえたら） |
| Volitional | 応えよう（こたえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 応えましょう（こたえましょう） |
| Imperative | 応えろ（こたえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym応じるおうじるNeutralNeutral verb for agreeing to a request or invitation, as in 「依頼に応じる」. 「応える」 focuses on meeting expectations, and on how cold, heat or fatigue hits the body.
- Synonym応ずるおうずるWrittenA stiffer, more written alternative form of 「応じる」 with the same meaning; its difference from 「応える」 is the same as for 「応じる」.
- Related報いるむくいるWrittenFormal, written verb for repaying a favor or taking revenge, as in 「恩に報いる」; it centers on giving something back. 「応える」 is about responding to expectations or demands.
- Related満たすみたすNeutralNeutral verb for satisfying conditions or needs, and also for filling a container. 「応える」 centers on meeting what someone else expects of you.
- Related償うつぐなうNeutralNeutral verb for compensating or atoning, as in 「罪を償う」; it centers on making up for a wrong. 「応える」 carries no sense of making amends.
- Related報うむくうNeutralNeutral verb, same meaning as 「報いる」: repaying or taking revenge. 「応える」 mainly responds to expectations and demands; it can answer kindness with action, but not revenge.
- RelatedねぎらうNeutralNeutral verb for thanking or comforting someone for their hard work, mostly a peer or subordinate, as in 「部下を労う」. 「応える」 is about responding to another's expectations.
- Related返報へんぽうWrittenWritten/formal noun for repaying or taking revenge, fairly rare; it centers on returning a favor or gift. 「応える」 is about responding to expectations.
Use 「応える」 for responding to expectations, demands, or the impact of severe cold or fatigue on the body, as in 「期待に応える」「寒さが身に応える」. For accepting a request or invitation use 「応じる」, for repaying a favor 「報いる」, and for meeting conditions 「満たす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
