How to say "restoration" in Japanese

• 回復かいふくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers restoration in the sense of a return to a former or normal state, as with health, strength, economic conditions or relations; think of recovery and rehabilitation rather than repair.
  回復かいふくはほとんど不可能ふかのうだった。↗

  Recovery was almost impossible.
• 復活ふっかつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers restoration as revival: bringing back an old system, custom or fashion that had ceased, or a comeback; the thing restored had once disappeared or stopped functioning.
  ３０年ねん前まえのファッションが復活ふっかつした。↗

  Fashions of thirty years ago have come back in style.
• 修復しゅうふくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbRestoration in the sense of repair or mending: fixing something damaged, whether a physical object or, figuratively, a damaged relationship, so that it works or holds together again.
  その城しろは修復しゅうふくされ市民しみんに公開こうかいされている。↗

  The castle has been restored and is open to the public.
• 還元かんげんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbGlossed restoration, but really about return: reverting something to an earlier or original form, or giving something back; seldom the word you want for restoring objects, health or buildings.
  ゲイツ会長かいちょう、広告こうこく収入しゅうにゅうをユーザーに還元かんげんする意向いこう表明ひょうめい。↗

  Bill Gates announces intent to return advertising revenue to the users.
• 復元ふくげんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbRestoration to the original state or location: returning something such as a building or artwork to how or where it originally was; also covers reconstruction and restitution.
  その塔とうを復元ふくげんしてはどうかと提案ていあんされた。↗

  It was suggested that the tower be restored.

Choose 回復 for recovery to a former or normal state (health, conditions, relations), 復活 for reviving something that had ceased, 修復 for repairing damage, 復元 for restoring something to its original state, and 還元 for returning something to its source.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 回復かいふくrestoration
• 復活ふっかつrevival (of an old system, custom, fashion, etc.)
• 修復しゅうふくrestoration
• 還元かんげんrestoration
• 復元ふくげんrestoration (to the original state or location)
• 復旧ふっきゅうrestoration
• 復興ふっこうrevival
• 返還へんかんreturn
• 一新いっしんcomplete change
• 中興ちゅうこうrestoration
• 再起さいきcomeback
• 還付かんぷreturn
• 復古ふっこrevival
• 再興さいこうrevival
• 立ち直りたちなおりrecovery
• 重複ちょうふくduplication
• レストアrestoration (buildings, art, vehicles, etc.)
• 復位ふくいrestoration
• 克復こくふくrestoration
• 復元作業ふくげんさぎょうrestoration
• 健全化けんぜんかrestoration
• 復辟ふくへきrestoration (of an abdicated ruler)
• レストレーションrestoration
• 修築しゅうちくrepair
• 挽回ばんかいrecovery
• 帰属きぞくreversion
• 王政復古おうせいふっこRestoration (England)
• 更生こうせいrebirth
• プルバックrestoration (to previous state)