プログレッシブ和英中辞典(第4版)の解説
こたえる【応える】
❶〔反応を示す〕respond ((to))，answer；〔報いる〕reward
電話での依頼にこたえて医者がすぐ来た
The doctor came at once in answer [response] to my telephone call.
君は彼の尽力にこたえねばならない
You must reward him for his services.
両親の期待にこたえられなかった
He couldn't live up to his parents' expectations.
❷〔体に強く感じる〕 ((物事を主語にして)) tell ((on))，affect；((人を主語にして)) really feel
この寒さはこたえる
This cold weather 「is very hard [really tells] on me.／I really feel this cold weather.
息子の死は確かにこたえたようだ
The death of his son has 「definitely told on him [really affected him].
彼の説教は胸にこたえた
His sermon came home to me.
彼女の強烈な皮肉が彼にはこたえたようだ
Her biting sarcasm seems to have really hit him hard.