帰 (guī) - Return — to go back to a place & to revert to a previous state

帰Tone 1

guī ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

帰 · guī

Return — to go back to a place;

to revert to a previous state;

to belong to;

to give back.

Return — to go back to a placeto revert to a previous stateto belong to

Usage highlights

Return homeReturn to one's countryHomecomingRegressionAttributionReturn trip

Synonyms

  • 戻— return, go back
  • 還— return, give back
  • 復— return, restore

Antonyms

  • 出— go out, depart
  • 去— leave, go away
  • 離— separate, leave

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I will return home tomorrow (明日帰宅).
  • The lost item was returned to its owner (落とし物が持ち主に帰った).
  • After the trip, we returned to Tokyo (旅行後、東京に帰った).
  • The property will revert to the state (財産は国に帰する).

Collocations

  • Return home(帰宅)
  • Return to one's country(帰国)
  • Homecoming(帰省)
  • Regression(回帰)
  • Attribution(帰属)
  • Return trip(帰路)

Idioms

  • Return to one's original nature(本性に帰る)
  • The prodigal son returns(放蕩息子の帰宅)
  • All rivers flow to the sea(百川海に帰す)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used in Japanese as the simplified form of 歸 (traditional Chinese) with the meaning of returning home.
  • Important cultural concept in East Asia emphasizing family reunion and returning to one's roots.
  • Frequently appears in seasonal contexts like holiday homecomings (帰省) during New Year and Obon festivals.

FAQ