応酬

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 応酬 (おうしゅう) is a noun that also forms a する verb for an exchange or back-and-forth of words, questions, or actions.
• Basic usage: It describes a fierce verbal exchange in a debate or actors trading witty lines.
  • 討論会では、両候補者の激しい言葉の応酬が続いた。 — The two candidates continued a fierce exchange in the debate.
  • 舞台では役者たちの軽妙な台詞の応酬が観客を笑わせた。 — The actors traded witty lines onstage and made the audience laugh.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Back-and-forth, not one direction
  • 応酬 focuses on two sides responding to each other rather than on a statement from only one side. The exchanged content can precede it with の, as in 言葉の応酬.