Korean Four-Character Idioms
동문서답
東問西答
Word for word
“asked about the east, answered about the west”
What it means
An answer that has nothing to do with the question.
When you'd use it
Someone dodging a question, or misunderstanding it completely.
Example
숙제했냐고 물었더니 저녁 메뉴를 말하네, 완전 동문서답이야.I asked if he did his homework and he told me what's for dinner — totally off topic.
Frequently asked questions
What does 동문서답 (東問西答) mean?
동문서답 (東問西答) is a Korean four-character idiom: an answer that has nothing to do with the question.
What are the Chinese characters in 동문서답?
동문서답 is written 東問西答 in hanja (Chinese characters), literally “asked about the east, answered about the west”.
When do Koreans use 동문서답?
Typical use: someone dodging a question, or misunderstanding it completely.
How do you use 동문서답 in a sentence?
“숙제했냐고 물었더니 저녁 메뉴를 말하네, 완전 동문서답이야.” means “I asked if he did his homework and he told me what's for dinner — totally off topic.”