verb HSK 4
to return · to go back · to give back
Meaning
返 is a formal verb meaning 'to return' or 'to go back' to a place or state. It emphasizes the action of returning or going back to an origin point. While it shares meaning with 回, 返 is more formal and literary, commonly appearing in written Chinese and formal speech.
Usage
返 is more formal than the everyday 回. It frequently appears in compound words like 返回 (to return), 往返 (round trip), and 返还 (to give back). In casual conversation, Chinese speakers typically prefer 回 over 返 alone. You'll see 返 more in written materials, official announcements, and formal contexts.
Examples
- 01他明天返回北京。.He will return to Beijing tomorrow.
- 02往返机票多少钱？?How much is a round-trip ticket?
Common collocations
- 返回to return, to go back
- 往返round trip
- 返还to return (something), to give back
- 返程return journey
Antonyms
Origin
The character 返 is a phono-semantic compound with 辵 (movement radical) and 反 (phonetic component meaning 'reverse'), suggesting the meaning of moving back or returning.