Meaning

Primary

To Be Returned

Alternatives

To Return, To Come Back

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

You hopefully know the word 返す, which means "to return" (as in, you're doing the direct action of returning something). This word, on the other hand, is the version where something just returns (and you're not doing the action of returning it). Use the to help you to remember this. the Kangaroo is returned to you. You don't do any of the returning, it just happens or someone else does it. That's why this word means to be returned.

Note this word is often combined with くる (to come), which reinforces the aspect that something is coming back to you.

Reading

かえる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading is the same as 返す, so as long as you know that you'll be able to apply it here to learn the reading of this word as well.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • メールが返ってくる

    an email comes back

    お金が返ってくる

    money is returned

    答えが返ってくる

    an answer comes back

Context Sentences

われに返ると、かれはトーフグオフィスのソファーに横たわっていた。

When he came to, he was lying on the sofa in the Tofugu office.

失くしたと思っていた大事な母の形見のペンダントが気づいたら手元に返ってきていた。

The precious keepsake pendant from my mom that I thought I'd lost was returned to me before I knew it.

貸したお金がちゃんと返ってくると思ったら大間違いよ。

Thinking my money would be returned properly was a huge mistake.

Kanji Composition