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masaegu (Offline)
永遠の愛
 
Posts: 2,573
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Central Tokyo
05-08-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnythefox View Post
こたえます - Answer, Reply, Respond.
返事します - Answer, Reply.

I keep messing them up.
These words seem to be really similar. Does anybody know the difference between them?
Very tricky question because you are writing the first one in kana. Which こたえる are you referring to? 答える or 応える?

返事する means "to reply" when your name is called or when you receive a letter/email, etc.

答える = to answer a question

応える = to respond, to react, to reward