‘回响’ literally combines 回 (‘to return, to circle back’) and 响 (‘sound, to ring out’), forming a noun meaning ‘echo’ — a sound that bounces back after hitting a surface — or figuratively, ‘resonance’, as in an idea or emotion that lingers powerfully in memory or public consciousness. It emphasizes repetition, delay, and lingering effect, not just immediate sound.

This word is often used in both concrete and abstract contexts: physically, it describes acoustic phenomena in mountains, canyons, or empty halls; metaphorically, it appears in literature, speeches, and journalism to convey lasting impact — for example, ‘the echo of history’ or ‘a policy’s enduring resonance’. It carries a slightly literary or formal tone and is rarely used in casual speech about everyday noises like door slams or phone rings.