Meaning and Usage
"返事" (へんじ) means "reply" or "answer" and is commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese to indicate a response to a question, message, or request.
Common Contexts
You will often see "返事" used when talking about replying to emails, messages, or verbal questions. It can refer to both formal and informal replies depending on context.
Collocations and Patterns
- 返事をする: to reply or answer
- 返事がない: no reply
- 返事を待つ: to wait for a reply
These phrases are very common in daily conversation and business communication.
Register and Politeness
"返事" itself is neutral and can be used in polite or casual contexts. To be more polite, it is often combined with polite verbs like "します" (します) or "ください" (ください).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "返事" with "答え" (こたえ), which also means "answer." "返事" emphasizes the act of replying, often to a communication, while "答え" is more about the content of an answer, especially to questions or problems.