1.
half-hearted reply; vague response
A response given without really paying attention or thinking about what was said. Often involves an absent-minded 'uh-huh' or 'yeah' while distracted.
生返事をしないで。
Don't give me a half-hearted reply.
彼はスマホを見ながら生返事ばかりだった。
He just kept giving vague responses while looking at his phone.
母に頼まれたのに生返事をしていたら、後で怒られた。
My mother asked me to do something, but I gave a vague reply, and later she got angry.
USAGE:
Usually used with する to form the expression 生返事をする (to give a half-hearted reply). Carries a negative connotation — it implies the person is not listening properly.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 生返事をする (to give a vague reply)
- 生返事ばかり (nothing but half-hearted replies)
- 生返事で済ませる (to get by with a vague reply)
WORD FORMATION:
生 (raw, half-done) + 返事 (reply). The 生 prefix suggests something incomplete or not fully committed, as in 生半可 (half-baked).