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答える

こたえる

to answer, to reply

Ichidan verbJLPT N5

Example Sentences

先生のしつもんに答えます。
I will answer the teacher’s question.
きのう、テストに答えました。
I answered the test yesterday.
まだ答えません。
I haven’t answered yet.

Grammar Notes & Usage Tips

Use 答える with the particle に to show who or what you're answering — for example, 先生の質問に答えます (I answer the teacher's question).
Don’t use を with 答える — even though you're "answering something," Japanese uses に instead.
You can also use と to show what you said in your answer, like 「はい」と答えました ("Yes," I answered).
JLPT N5 level

Common Phrases & Expressions

質問に答える
to answer a question
正直に答える
to answer honestly
呼びかけに答える
to respond to a call (or someone calling out)

Complete Conjugation Table

Basic Forms

Dictionary Form
答える
Masu Form
答えます
Te Form
答えて
Past Form
答えた
Negative Form
答えない
Past Negative
答えなかった

Polite Forms

Polite Present
答えます
Polite Past
答えました
Polite Negative
答えません
Polite Past Negative
答えませんでした

Advanced Forms

Potential Form
答えられる
Passive Form
答えられる
Causative Form
答えさせる
Causative Passive
答えさせられる
Volitional Form
答えよう
Imperative Form
答えろ

Conditional Forms

Conditional (ば)
答えれば
Conditional (たら)
答えたら

Other Forms

Progressive Form
答えている
Desire (たい)
答えたい
Prohibition
答えるな

Related Verbs