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Kanji Detail for 返 - "to return, to repay"

返

  • Meaning

    返 means "to return, to repay." Also associated with to reverse.

    1. Return - To go back; to give back.

    2. Reply - To respond; to answer.

    3. Reverse - To turn back.

  • Words using 返

    • 返還 へんかん Listen return; restoration
    • 返事 へんじ Listen reply; answer; response
    • 見返り みかえり Listen reward; compensation; repayment
    • 繰り返し くりかえし Listen repetition; repeat; reiteration
    • 巻き返し まきかえし Listen rally; recovery; comeback
    • 繰り返す くりかえす Listen to repeat; to do over again
    • 振り返る ふりかえる Listen to turn one's head; to look over one's shoulder; to turn around
    • 返上 へんじょう Listen return; giving back; giving up

  • Four-character idioms with 返

    • 汚名返上 おめいへんじょう Listen clearing one's name; redeeming oneself; restoring one's honor

  • Tattoo check: 返

    • Verified meaning: to return, to repay
    • Official Jōyō kanji — a standard character every Japanese reader recognises
    • Used in real Japanese given names (read ふくしま, ふくじま)
    • Also carries these associations: to reverse

    A single kanji rarely maps one-to-one onto an English word. Read the meanings and associations above as a set — a character that fits the dictionary definition can still carry a connotation you did not intend.

  • Name readings of 返

    Surnames 返(ふくしま)Listen 返(ふくじま)Listen

  • Dictionary Citations

    The meaning above is based on the following sources:

    KANJIDIC2 A comprehensive Japanese-English kanji dictionary

    return; answer; fade; repay

    Unihan Unicode Han Database for CJK characters

    return, revert to, restore

    CC-CEDICT A Chinese-English dictionary

    to return (to)

    Make Me a Hanzi Open-source Chinese character data

    to restore, to return, to revert to

    XSZD Xuéshēng Zìdiǎn (學生字典) - Student's Dictionary

    To return. Meaning to return something. Prince Chong'er of Jin accepted the meal and returned the jade disc. Appears in "Zuozhuan." | To return. Meaning going and coming back. Such as saying 流連忘返 (lingering and forgetting to return). Often written as 反.

  • Onyomi

    tip

    hen(ヘン) ヘン

  • Kunyomi

    tip

    ka.eru(か-える) か-える

    kae.su(かえ-す) かえ-す

  • Strokes

    tip

    7 strokes

  • Radical

    tip

    辵 辶 (shinnyo・shinnyu)

  • Related Keywords

    to return to reverse to repay reply retreat revert give back answer rebound reciprocate reimburse respond restore retrace send back

Sentences including 返

  • You need not answer the letter.

  • I want you to return it to me as soon as possible.

  • He didn't reply to my letter.

  • I'd like to have your answer right away.

  • I repeated the word several times for her.

  • As of today , we haven't had an answer from him.

  • Please give me your answer by return.

  • She repeated her name slowly.

  • The reply came after three days.

  • What is done cannot be undone.

Sentences from Japanese classical masterpieces

More kanji with the radical 辵 辶 (shinnyo・shinnyu)

See all kanji with this radical →

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