What's the difference between…?

[untmdsprt]

振る(ふる) , 断る(ことわる) - these could be a simple case of intransitive and transitive verbs, but if it's not then what's the difference?

答え, 返事 (へんじ) - both I believe are nouns


I've come across numerous items like these and wonder when do you use one over the other. This also could be a good idea for a lesson if it hasn't been done yet.

Thanks!

[fireemblem8088]

It probably would be a good idea for a lesson (or part of a lesson).
Somebody please respond to my post on the lesson suggestion board where I suggest a whole SERIES of "What's the difference between?" or "When do we use A as opposed to B?" lessons.
http://www.japanesepod101.com/forum/vie ... php?t=5394
Seriously, are people afraid to post on that board or something? My topic has 115 views but not one response. I thought it was a pretty good idea.

Anyway, to answer your second question...
I think 答え is more "answer" in terms of answering a question. For example, in conversation or in a test.
Whereas 返事 means "response", as in a response to a message or something. It can be used in place of RSVP, if that gives you any idea.
But then we also have the word 返信 and 返答, and probably a couple more than I don't know about. So yeah, JapanesePod101 to the rescue?

[Javizy]

振る(ふる) , 断る(ことわる) - these could be a simple case of intransitive and transitive verbs, but if it's not then what's the difference?

Both are transitive in this case, but generally transitive/intransitive pairs use the same kanji with different okurigana, e.g. 壊す／壊れる, 冷やす／冷える. 振る and 断る are two separate words.

振る has a ton of meanings, but I think the one you're after is 'to reject, turn down, dump'. It seems to be used mostly in the passive when somebody gets dumped by their partner or rejected during ナンパ or 告白. 断る means, more generally, to turn down or reject a request in all sorts of situations.

答え and 返事

These can be interchangeable, but you most often hear 返事 used to refer to a reply to an e-mail, text, letter etc, and 答え as the answer to a question.

If I have this problem, I find that J-J definitions are useful. Since the problem is in using the words though, I think it's best to try and see them being used as much as possible. Ideally this would happen naturally through reading, conversation, watching TV etc, but if you need to force the issue, try typing the word into Google or using something like Jim Breem's example sentence search.