返す To Return Something

Meaning

Primary

To Return Something

Alternative

To Return

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means return so the verb version means to return something.

This is more like "to return a thing" rather than returning home, which would be 帰る, a word you haven't seen yet (but will soon, I'm sure!).

Reading

かえす

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

You have to return the Car egg (かえ) you found on the side of the road. It will birth a little car, but it needs its mother. So, you try to figure out how to return it. Go ahead and think through that process in your mind. Also think about how weird a car egg would be.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜を返す

  お金を返す

  to return money

  あいさつを返す

  to return a greeting

  メールを返す

  to send back an email

• 〜に返す

  土に返す

  to return to the earth

  表に返す

  to return to face up, to turn right side out (sewing)

  相手に返す

  to return to one's partner

Context Sentences

今日は、父に車のお金を返す日です。

Today is the day I return the car money to my father.

本を返したいんだけど、明日は家にいる？

I want to return your book. Are you home tomorrow?

「昨日あげたクッキー返してくれない？」「えっ、口から出せってこと？」

"Could you return the cookies I gave you yesterday?" "Huh? You mean, I should spit them up?"

Kanji Composition

1. 返

   へん Return