お返し・御返し|おかえしokaeshi[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
お返しお返し is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it for all the meanings in this entry.
御返し御返し is a less common kanji-and-kana variant of お返し; recognize it when encountered, but choose お返し when writing.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbreturn gift; return favour
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbrevenge
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbchange (in a cash transaction)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | お返しする（おかえしする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | お返しします（おかえしします） |
| Negative (nai) | お返ししない（おかえししない） |
| polite (masen) | お返ししません（おかえししません） |
| classical zu / nu | お返しせず・お返しせぬ（おかえしせず・おかえしせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | お返しした（おかえしした） |
| polite (mashita) | お返ししました（おかえししました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | お返ししなかった（おかえししなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | お返ししませんでした（おかえししませんでした） |
| Te form | お返しして（おかえしして） |
| Potential | お返しできる（おかえしできる） |
| Passive | お返しされる（おかえしされる） |
| Causative | お返しさせる（おかえしさせる） |
| Causative passive | お返しさせられる（おかえしさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | お返しすれば（おかえしすれば） |
| tara | お返ししたら（おかえししたら） |
| Volitional | お返ししよう（おかえししよう） |
| polite (mashou) | お返ししましょう（おかえししましょう） |
| Imperative | お返ししろ（おかえししろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym返礼へんれいWrittenWritten word for a return gift or courtesy, stressing the polite return of a favour; 「お返し」 is the everyday term, also covering revenge and change.
- Related復讐ふくしゅうNeutralSerious revenge for a wrong done to you; never used for return gifts or change, and far more formal than the light revenge sense of 「お返し」.
- Related報復ほうふくWrittenWritten word for retaliation or a reciprocal counterstrike, typically by nations or organizations; 「お返し」 is lighter and conversational.
- Related仕返ししかえしCasualColloquial tit-for-tat payback for harm received, covering both big and small acts; the revenge sense of 「お返し」 is milder and it also means return gifts and change.
- RelatedリベンジCasualColloquial loanword for redeeming a loss or taking a second challenge, mostly in sports and matches.
Use 「お返し」 for return gifts, change, or light revenge. For a formal return gift say 「返礼」, for tit-for-tat payback 「仕返し」, for redemption in a match 「リベンジ」, and for serious revenge 「復讐」; 「報復」 is written-style retaliation by states or groups.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
