How to say "return" in Japanese

• 返るかえるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: to come back or go back — a borrowed item comes back, money returns, a reply arrives. Use it for the thing coming back, not the act of handing it over.
  のろいはのろい主ぬしに返かえる。↗

  Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
• 返すかえすJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTransitive: to give something back — a borrowed book, borrowed money — or to restore it to where it was. Choose this when you are the one doing the returning.
  お金かねは明日あす返かえすよ。↗

  I'll give you back the money tomorrow.
• 帰りかえりJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounA noun, not a verb: the coming back, the return trip or journey home. Typical contexts include what you do or buy on the way back, or the time of the return.
  どうして帰かえりがこんなに遅おそくなったの。↗

  Why did you come home so late?
• 戻すもどすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTransitive: to put something back where it was, or restore it to a previous state. The image is restoring a former place or condition, not handing something back to its owner.
  その本ほんを棚たなに戻もどしておきなさい。↗

  Put the book back on the shelf.
• 復活ふっかつJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA noun for the return of something that had died out or been discontinued — the revival of an old custom or fashion, a comeback. Not the word for returning an object or going back somewhere.
  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.

Use 「返す」 for handing something back and 「返る」 for it coming back; 「戻す」 for putting things back or restoring them; 「帰り」 for the return trip; 復活 for the revival of something old.

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

• 返るかえるto return
• 返すかえすto return (something)
• 帰りかえりreturn
• 戻すもどすto put back
• 復活ふっかつrevival (of an old system, custom, fashion, etc.)
• 再現さいげんreappearance
• 復帰ふっきreturn
• リターンreturn
• 再発さいはつreturn
• 帰還きかんreturn (home)
• 回帰かいきreturn (to)
• 返還へんかんreturn
• 戻りもどりreturn
• 還元かんげんrestoration
• 申告しんこくreport
• 報いむくいreward
• 回復かいふくrestoration
• 還付かんぷreturn
• 返上へんじょうreturn
• 立ち戻るたちもどるto return
• 帰着きちゃくreturn
• 再来さいらいreturn
• 帰るかえるto return
• お帰りおかえりreturn
• 舞い戻るまいもどるto come back
• 引き返すひきかえすto turn back
• 返しかえしreversal
• 復するふくするto return (to the original state)
• 来復らいふくreturn
• 返付へんぷreturn
• 取って返すとってかえすto return
• 帰ってくるかえってくるto return
• 復すふくすto return (to the original state)
• 還御かんぎょreturn (of the emperor, empress, shogun, etc.)
• いぬるto return
• ぶり返すぶりかえすto come back (of an illness, cold weather, etc.)
• 帰り着くかえりつくto arrive home
• 復改ふっかいcarriage return
• 踵を返すきびすをかえすto turn on one's heel
• 脇机わきづくえdrawer unit (next to a desk)
• 引っ返すひっかえすto turn back
• 戻るもどるto return
• めぐるto come around (of a season, anniversary, turn, etc.)
• 代わりかわりcompensation
• 報ずるほうずるto repay
• 折り返すおりかえすto turn back
• 帰属きぞくreversion
• 報じるほうじるto repay
• あがりincome
• 返報へんぽうrequital (for a kind act)
• プルバックrestoration (to previous state)
• 押し返すおしかえすto (refuse and) return (something)
• 拾うひろうto (just manage to) return (the ball)