to answer
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to answer
To give an oral or written answer to a question, a letter, an email, or an official inquiry.
Der Professor konnte die Frage des Studenten sofort beantworten.
The professor was able to answer the student's question immediately.
to return
To react to an action, a gesture, or a feeling with a corresponding response.
Sie beantwortete sein Lächeln mit einem freundlichen Nicken.
She returned his smile with a friendly nod.
'Beantworten' (to answer) is always a transitive verb and requires a direct object in the accusative. You answer *something*. The preposition 'auf', which is used with the verb 'antworten' ('auf eine Frage antworten' — to answer a question), is not used with 'beantworten'.
Bitte beantworten Sie meine E-Mail so schnell wie möglich.
Please answer my email as soon as possible.
The prefix 'be-' makes this verb inseparable. This means that the prefix remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms, including in the past participle ('beantwortet' — answered).
Sie hat die Frage leider nicht beantwortet.
Unfortunately, she did not answer the question.
In its main meaning, 'beantworten' (to answer) is combined with objects from the field of communication. Typical phrases are 'eine Frage beantworten' (to answer a question), 'einen Brief beantworten' (to answer a letter), 'eine E-Mail beantworten' (to answer an email), or 'eine Anfrage beantworten' (to answer an inquiry).
Ich muss noch einige wichtige Kundenanfragen beantworten.
I still have to answer several important customer inquiries.
Besides questions, 'beantworten' (to answer/return) can also describe a reaction to a social signal. If the object is a gesture or feeling such as 'ein Lächeln' (a smile), 'ein Blick' (a look), 'ein Gruß' (a greeting), or 'Liebe' (love), it means to return or reciprocate that action.
Er beantwortete ihren fragenden Blick mit einem leichten Kopfnicken.
He returned her questioning look with a slight nod.
to react
Both words can refer to a response to an action, statement, or feeling. „Beantworten“ emphasizes a corresponding counteraction and takes its target directly, while „reagieren“ is more general and is usually used with „auf“. Use „beantworten“ for a specific reply and „reagieren“ for any kind of reaction.
Sie beantwortete seinen freundlichen Gruß mit einem Lächeln.
She returned his friendly greeting with a smile.
Sie reagierte auf seinen freundlichen Gruß mit einem Lächeln.
She reacted to his friendly greeting with a smile.
