答應 (dā yìng) is a verb meaning 'to agree' or 'to promise'—it expresses consent to a request, proposal, or plan. The character 答 (dā) means 'to answer' or 'to respond', while 應 (yìng) means 'to respond to' or 'to comply with'; together, they emphasize a willing, affirmative response that carries commitment. It’s commonly used in interpersonal contexts—between friends, family members, or colleagues—when someone accepts a suggestion, agrees to help, or pledges to do something.

This word implies more than passive acceptance: it suggests intention and responsibility. For example, if you 答應 to pick someone up, you’re expected to follow through. It’s neutral in formality—used in both casual speech and polite conversation—but not typically found in highly formal writing (where 承諾 or 應允 may appear instead). Note that 答應 is transitive and usually takes a direct object (e.g., a clause or noun phrase indicating what is being agreed to).