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동문서답 東問西答
Giving an irrelevant answer to a question or missing the point entirely by talking about something completely unrelated.
동문서답 (東問西答) means "Giving an irrelevant answer to a question or missing the point entirely by talking about something completely unrelated.". Rather than originating from a specific classical text, this idiom emerged naturally as a way to des
1 Meaning
동문서답 (東問西答) means “Giving an irrelevant answer to a question or missing the point entirely by talking about something completely unrelated.”.
Dong-mun-seo-dap (東問西答) literally translates to 'asking in the east and answering in the west.' it refers to a situation where someone provides a completely random or nonsensical response that misses the speaker's intent.
The Western Equivalent
No exact match — here's why
No direct English equivalent. "Asked about the east, answering about the west" describes a reply that has nothing to do with the question. English can call it "a non sequitur" or "answering a question no one asked," but there is no set proverb with this east-west image.
2 Examples
A business meeting where a manager asks for a project deadline
The employee starts talking about the lunch menu instead of providing a date
A student taking a difficult math exam
Writing 'Life is easier if you just give up' on a subjective question about formulas
A couple discussing deep feelings of disappointment
One partner suddenly comments on how nice the weather is and suggests a walk
Interacting with an AI chatbot
The user asks for a recipe, but the AI suddenly provides yesterday's soccer scores
Which situation fits this idiom?
Pick the everyday scene where “동문서답” fits best.
3 Origin
4 Key Lessons
The Power of Active Listening: True communication begins only when you accurately grasp the other person's intention.
Flexible Thinking: Occasionally, an unexpected or 'off-topic' response can serve as a creative icebreaker in a rigid atmosphere.
Integrity in Speech: Avoiding a direct question with a nonsensical answer to hide ignorance can undermine personal credibility.
5 English Expression
English Vocabulary
bliss
더없는 행복, 지복
"Lying on the beach in the sun was pure bliss."
straight talk
솔직한 대화, 직접적인 화법
"We need some straight talk about the problems in this office."
avoid
피하다, 회피하다
"He tried to avoid answering the difficult question."
focus
집중하다, 초점을 맞추다
"It's hard to focus on my homework with the TV on."
6 Learn with Music
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동문서답
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