帰る・還る|かえるkaeru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
帰る帰る（かえる） is the most common written form. It is written with kanji and kana and is the form beginners should normally choose.
還る還る（かえる） is less common than 帰る（かえる）. It is another written form using kanji and kana, but 帰る（かえる） is the safer choice for learners.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto return; to come home; to go home; to go back
- godan verb, intransitive verbto leave (of a guest, customer, etc.)
- godan verb, intransitive verb, baseballto get home; to get to home plate
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 帰る（かえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 帰ります（かえります） |
| Negative (nai) | 帰らない（かえらない） |
| polite (masen) | 帰りません（かえりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 帰らず・帰らぬ（かえらず・かえらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 帰った（かえった） |
| polite (mashita) | 帰りました（かえりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 帰らなかった（かえらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 帰りませんでした（かえりませんでした） |
| Te form | 帰って（かえって） |
| Potential | 帰れる（かえれる） |
| Passive | 帰られる（かえられる） |
| Causative | 帰らせる（かえらせる） |
| Causative passive | 帰らせられる・帰らされる（かえらせられる・かえらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 帰れば（かえれば） |
| tara | 帰ったら（かえったら） |
| Volitional | 帰ろう（かえろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 帰りましょう（かえりましょう） |
| Imperative | 帰れ（かえれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
家に帰る
子供を帰す
帰る emphasizes the subject's own return (家に帰る), while 帰す describes causing another person to return (子供を帰す).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym戻るもどるNeutralReturns to a previous place or state, e.g. 「席に戻る」; not limited to home and can mean turning back partway. 「帰る」focuses on going home or back to one's base.
- Synonym舞い戻るまいもどるNeutralComing back to the original place after wandering about, often with a sense of the unexpected or unwelcome; 「帰る」is just an ordinary going back.
- Synonym返るかえるNeutralMostly for things returning to their place, or states reverting or flipping, e.g. 「手紙が返ってくる」「我に返る」; subjects are usually things. For people going home, use 「帰る」.
- Synonym立ち返るたちかえるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Returning to a former place or state, often an abstract starting point, e.g. 「原点に立ち返る」; written 「立ち帰る」, it can mean a literal return.
- Synonym立ち戻るたちもどるWrittenWritten/formal prose. Returning to a place or state after leaving it; rather rare. In everyday language use 「戻る」.
- Synonym帰ってくるかえってくるNeutralComing back this way, viewed from the place one returns to, as in 「父が帰ってくる」「故郷に帰ってきた」; plain 「帰る」 does not fix the viewpoint at the destination.
- Related引き返すひきかえすNeutralMeans turning back halfway, as in 「途中で引き返す」; stresses retracing one's steps mid-journey, which 「帰る」does not.
- Related復帰ふっきWrittenWritten/formal prose. Getting back to a former post or condition, e.g. 「職場に復帰する」; its object is a position or state, never one's home.
- Related帰還きかんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Returning from a far-off place, e.g. 「宇宙から帰還する」, with a solemn tone; for everyday homecomings use 「帰る」.
- Related逆戻りぎゃくもどりNeutralGoing back to a former place or state, often with a negative nuance, as in 「冬に逆戻り」; 「帰る」has no sense of backsliding.
- Related復職ふくしょくFormalFormal. Returning to one's old post after leave or resignation; used in personnel contexts, e.g. 「育休から復職する」. Nothing to do with going home.
- Related帰国きこくNeutralReturning to one's own country from abroad, or to one's hometown; usually as 「帰国する」. 「帰る」is more colloquial and unrestricted as to destination.
- Related帰宅きたくNeutralA noun for getting back to one's own home, common in writing and announcements, e.g. 「帰宅時間」; in speech people say 「家に帰る」.
- Related帰省きせいNeutralReturning to one's hometown or family home, e.g. 「お盆に帰省する」; the destination is limited to one's home region, while 「帰る」is not.
- Related復するふくするWrittenWritten/formal prose. Returning to an original state or position, e.g. 「旧に復する」; mostly about restoring the status quo. In daily speech use 「戻る」.
- Related復すふくすWrittenWritten/formal prose, synonymous with 「復する」: restoring a former state or returning to an original place. More abstract than 「帰る」; daily use favors 「戻る」「元に戻す」.
- Related引っ返すひっかえすCasualColloquial version of 「引き返す」, meaning to turn back; more casual in tone, heard mainly in conversation or informal narration.
- Related出戻るでもどるCasualColloquial. Going back to where one came from, especially one's parents' home after divorce or a former workplace; often teasing. 「帰る」lacks this nuance.
- AntonymいくNeutralAntonym in direction of movement: going from here to somewhere else, while 「帰る」is heading back to one's base.
- Antonym出るでるNeutralThe opposite of 「帰る」: leaving home or a place, as in 「家を出る」; 「帰る」is coming back home.
「帰る」 is the everyday word for going home or back to one's base. To return to a former position or state in general, use 「戻る」; to turn back partway, 「引き返す」. 「帰ってくる」 frames the return from the destination's side. For country, home or hometown, use 「帰国」「帰宅」「帰省」. 「復帰」「復職」 concern posts and states, while 「帰還」 is a solemn return from afar; colloquial 「引っ返す」「出戻る」 add casual or teasing shades. Opposites: 「行く」, 「出る」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
