Translation and Meaning of: 返る - kaeru

If you are studying Japanese or simply interested in the language, you may have come across the word 返る (かえる). It appears in various contexts and can cause confusion for those who are just starting out. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, writing, and how it is used in everyday Japanese. Additionally, you will discover practical tips for memorizing it and understand why it is so relevant in the language.

What does 返る (かえる) mean?

The word 返る (かえる) has as its main meaning "to return" or "to come back." It is frequently used to indicate the act of going back to a previous place or state. For example, it can refer to someone returning home or an object coming back to its owner's hands. Unlike other similar verbs, such as 帰る (かえる), which specifically refers to going back home, 返る has a broader sense of return.

It is worth noting that 返る can also be used in more abstract contexts, such as when something "returns to normal" or "goes back to an original state." This versatility makes the word quite common in everyday conversations and even in idiomatic expressions. If you have ever heard the phrase "元に返る" (もとにかえる), for example, it means "to go back to what it was before."

The origin and writing of 返る

The kanji 返 is composed of the radical 辶 (しんにょう), which is related to movement, and the component 反 (はん), which can suggest the idea of "opposite" or "repetition." Together, they reinforce the notion of "going back" or "returning." This combination is not random – many kanjis that indicate movement or direction use the radical 辶, such as 進む (すすむ, "to advance") and 逃げる (にげる, "to escape").

It is interesting to note that 返る is often confused with 帰る, which also means "to return," but has a more restricted usage. While 帰る almost always refers to returning home or to one's country of origin, 返る has a more general meaning. This subtle difference is important for those who want to speak Japanese accurately.

How to use 返る in daily life

In Japan, 返る appears in various everyday situations. If you have already returned a book to the library, for example, you can say "本を返した" (ほんをかえした), which means "I returned the book." Another common use is in expressions like "気が返る" (きがかえる), which can be translated as "regaining one's senses" or "coming back to oneself."

Moreover, the word is often found in warnings and instructions. If you've ever seen a sign that says "お釣りが返ります" (おつりがかえります), know that it indicates that the change will be returned. This type of usage shows how 返る is present in practical situations, from commercial transactions to informal conversations.

Tips for memorizing 返る

An effective way to memorize 返る is to associate it with concrete situations. Think of actions like "returning a loan" or "going back to a place". Creating simple sentences, such as "友達に本を返す" (ともだちにほんをかえす, "return the book to a friend"), helps to internalize the verb naturally.

Another strategy is to observe the kanji 返 and remember that it carries the idea of movement (辶) combined with repetition (反). This decomposition not only facilitates memorization but also helps to differentiate it from other similar verbs. With constant practice, using 返る correctly will become increasingly intuitive.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 返る

• 返る - dictionary form
• 返られる - Potential
• 返ります - Gift
• 返りました - Past
• 返って - Te form -て

Synonyms and similar words

• 帰る (Kaeru) - Back home
• 戻る (Modoru) - Back to a previous point, return
• 反る (Soru) - Bend backwards, twist
• 返す (Kaesu) - To return something, to return to someone
• 回る (Mawaru) - Spin, circle around something

返る

Romaji: kaeru
Kana: かえる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: return; go back; come back

Meaning in English: to return;to come back;to go back

Definition: Back. Return.

Example Sentences - (返る) kaeru

See below some example sentences:

宙返りは危険な技です。

Chūgaeri wa kiken na waza desu

A backflip is a dangerous technique.

The return is a dangerous technique.

• 宙返り - "サルト" significa "salto mortal" ou "volta ao ar" em japonês.
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 危険 - "危険" (kiken) significa "perigoso" em japonês.
• な - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the adjectivation of the word that comes before.
• 技 - means "technique" or "skill" in Japanese.
• です - It is a polite way to say "is" in Japanese.

去る者は返らず。

Saru mono wa kaerazu

The one who departed does not return.

The one who leaves does not return.

• 去る者 (saru mono) - those who depart
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 返らず (kaerazu) - they don't return

この台本は素晴らしいですね。

Kono daihon wa subarashii desu ne

This script is wonderful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 台本 - noun that means "script" or "screenplay"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means "wonderful" or "excellent"
• です - verb to be in the polite form
• ね - final particle that indicates a rhetorical question or a confirmation

この事業の採算はどうですか？

Kono jigyou no saisaku wa dou desu ka?

How is this business profitable?

• この事業 - "this business"
• の - Possession particle
• 採算 - "financial viability"
• は - Topic particle
• どう - "how"
• ですか - "Is it?" (polite form of asking)

私の父は公立病院の職員です。

Watashi no chichi wa kōritsu byōin no shokuin desu

My father is a team of public hospitals.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 父 - noun that means "father"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 公立 - adjective that means "public"
• 病院 - The noun that means "hospital" is "hospital" in English.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 職員 - noun that means "employee"
• です - verb that indicates to be or to stay, in the present tense and formal