Email: 「回答」vs「返事」


In the context of email sending, in order to acknowledge an email which is
better?

> 回答有難うございます
>
> 返事有難うございます

Also, if you have some rules on when to use either, it would be much
appreciated!




It all depends on the content of your most recent correspondence.

> If the other person has answered an important question that you had asked
> previously, you can use 「（ご）[回答]{かいとう}ありがとうございます。」 as 「回答」 means "an answer
> to a question".

I used the word "important" because something like "How are you?" is not one
of the questions I am talking about here.

The honorific 「ご」 would be a nice touch most of the time, but it would be
optional if you were way "above" the other person.

> If no Q&A has been performed recently, you cannot use the word 「回答」 like
> above. You can say, instead, 「お[返事]{へんじ}ありがとうございます。」 as 「返事」 only means
> "reply".

That honorific 「お」 is used virtually 100% of the time in this set phrase
regardless of your relationship with the other person.




It all depends on the content of your most recent correspondence.

> If the other person has answered an important question that you had asked
> previously, you can use 「（ご）[回答]{かいとう}ありがとうございます。」 as 「回答」 means "an answer
> to a question".

I used the word "important" because something like "How are you?" is not one
of the questions I am talking about here.

The honorific 「ご」 would be a nice touch most of the time, but it would be
optional if you were way "above" the other person.

> If no Q&A has been performed recently, you cannot use the word 「回答」 like
> above. You can say, instead, 「お[返事]{へんじ}ありがとうございます。」 as 「返事」 only means
> "reply".

That honorific 「お」 is used virtually 100% of the time in this set phrase
regardless of your relationship with the other person.

