归 (guī) - to return & to go back

归Tone 1

guī ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 彐

枫惠

归 · guī

to return;

to go back;

to give back;

to belong to;

to converge;

to marry (of a woman)

to returnto go backto give back

Usage highlights

return homego backbelong toreturn to one's countryconclusionhomecoming

Synonyms

  • 回— to return
  • 返— to go back
  • 还— to give back

Antonyms

  • 离— to leave
  • 去— to go away
  • 出— to go out

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He will return home tomorrow (归家).
  • This book belongs to the library (归于图书馆).
  • All rivers flow into the sea (百川归海).
  • She married into a wealthy family (归嫁).

Collocations

  • return home(归家)
  • go back(归去)
  • belong to(归于)
  • return to one's country(归国)
  • conclusion(归结)
  • homecoming(归来)

Idioms

  • Return home in glory(衣锦荣归)
  • Return to the basics(返璞归真)
  • All roads lead to Rome(殊途同归)
  • Return to one's rightful place(归位)
  • The prodigal son returns(浪子回头金不换)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, '归' carries strong connotations of homecoming and reunion, reflecting the importance of family.
  • Historically used to describe a woman's marriage, as she would 'return' to her husband's family.
  • In Confucian thought, '归' implies returning to one's true nature or proper place in the social order.

FAQ