# 返

| 返 | U+8FD4, &#36820; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-8FD4 |
| ← 迓 [U+8FD3] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 迕 → [U+8FD5] |

## Translingual
### Han character

返 (Kangxi radical 162, 辵+4, 8 strokes in traditional Chinese and Korean, 7 strokes in simplified Chinese and Japanese, cangjie input 卜竹水 (YHE), four-corner 3130$_4$ or 3230$_4$, composition ⿺辶反)

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 1254, character 14
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 38758
* Dae Jaweon: page 1737, character 7
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3820, character 1
* Unihan data for U+8FD4

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 返 :
| Warring States | Warring States | Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han) | Liushutong (compiled in Ming) |
| Bronze inscriptions | Chu slip and silk script | Small seal script | Transcribed ancient scripts |
| | Old Chinese |
| 扳 | *praːn, *pʰraːn |
| 板 | *praːnʔ |
| 版 | *praːnʔ |
| 瓪 | *praːnʔ, *paːnʔ |
| 昄 | *praːnʔ, *braːnʔ, *paːnʔ |
| 鈑 | *praːnʔ |
| 蝂 | *praːnʔ |
| 眅 | *pʰraːn, *pʰraːnʔ |
| 阪 | *braːnʔ, *panʔ |
| 魬 | *braːnʔ |
| 粄 | *paːnʔ |
| 反 | *panʔ, *pʰan |
| 返 | *panʔ |
| 坂 | *panʔ |
| 畈 | *pans |
| 販 | *pans |
| 汳 | *pʰans |
| 飯 | *bonʔ, *bons |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *panʔ) and ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): semantic 辶 (“movement”) + phonetic 反 (OC *panʔ, *pʰan, “to return”). It originally conveyed the meaning of "to return along the path one came from" and, by extension, came to signify the idea of "to restore" or "to revert."

#### References

* ↑ Digital Shinjigen 2017

### Etymology 1

See 反 (OC *panʔ, *pʰan).

#### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): fǎn (fan$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄈㄢˇ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): faan$^2$
* Hakka (Sixian, PFS): fán
* Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): hoán
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: fǎn
*** Zhuyin: ㄈㄢˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: fǎn
*** Wade–Giles: fan$^3$
*** Yale: fǎn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: faan
*** Palladius: фань (fanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /fän²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: faan$^2$
*** Yale: fáan
*** Cantonese Pinyin: faan$^2$
*** Guangdong Romanization: fan$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /faːn³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: fán
*** Hakka Romanization System: fan$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: fan$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /fan³¹/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hoán
*** Tâi-lô: huán
*** Phofsit Daibuun: hoarn
*** IPA (Xiamen): /huan⁵³/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /huan⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /huan⁵³/
*** IPA (Taipei): /huan⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /huan⁴¹/
* Middle Chinese: pjonX
Rime :
| Character | 返 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 幫 (1) |
| Final (韻) | 元 (66) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Closed |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 府遠切 |
| Baxter | pjonX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /pʉɐn$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /pʷiɐn$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /piuɐn$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /puan$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /piuɐn$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /pĭwɐn$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /pi̯wɐn$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | fǎn |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | faan$^2$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*Cə.panʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*panʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 返 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | fǎn |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ pjon$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*Cə.panʔ/ |
| English | return |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 返 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 2969 |
| Phonetic component | 反 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 1 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 反 |
| Old Chinese | /*panʔ/ |

#### Definitions

返
* to return (to); to come or go back (to)
    返京 ― fǎn Jīng ― to return to Beijing
    流連忘返／流连忘返 ― liúliánwàngfǎn ― to linger and be reluctant to leave
* to return; to give back

#### Compounds

* 一去不返 (yīqùbùfǎn)
* 七返九還 / 七返九还
* 不返
* 二返投唐
* 倦鳥知返 / 倦鸟知返
* 回光返照 (huíguāngfǎnzhào)
* 廢然而返 / 废然而返
* 往返 (wǎngfǎn)
* 徒勞往返 / 徒劳往返
* 慈烏返哺 / 慈乌返哺
* 折返 (zhéfǎn)
* 樂而忘返 / 乐而忘返
* 流連忘返 / 流连忘返 (liúliánwàngfǎn)
* 無功而返 / 无功而返 (wúgōng'érfǎn)
* 由博返約 / 由博返约
* 留連忘返 / 留连忘返
* 積重難返 / 积重难返 (jīzhòngnánfǎn)
* 覺返迷津 / 觉返迷津
* 返來 / 返来
* 返勾
* 返吟復吟 / 返吟复吟
* 返哺 (fǎnbǔ)
* 返回 (fǎnhuí)
* 返國 / 返国 (fǎnguó)
* 返抵 (fǎndǐ)
* 返旆
* 返景
* 返本還原 / 返本还原
* 返棹
* 返正撥亂 / 返正拨乱
* 返潮 (fǎncháo)
* 返照 (fǎnzhào)
* 返照回光
* 返璞歸真 / 返璞归真 (fǎnpúguīzhēn)
* 返璧
* 返程 (fǎnchéng)
* 返老歸童 / 返老归童
* 返老還童 / 返老还童 (fǎnlǎohuántóng)
* 返航 (fǎnháng)
* 返躬內省 / 返躬内省
* 返轡 / 返辔
* 返鄉 / 返乡 (fǎnxiāng)
* 返里
* 返防
* 返魂
* 返魂乏術 / 返魂乏术 (fǎnhúnfáshù)
* 返魂草
* 迴光返照 / 回光返照 (huíguāngfǎnzhào)
* 迷而不返
* 迷而知返
* 迷途知返 (mítúzhīfǎn)
* 遣返 (qiǎnfǎn)
* 還元返本 / 还元返本
* 還淳返樸 / 还淳返朴
* 還珠返璧 / 还珠返璧
* 重返 (chóngfǎn)
* 駕返瑤池 / 驾返瑶池

### Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Derived from the Jiyun 孚袁切 reading of 返? Or is it actually 翻?”)

#### Pronunciation

* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): faan$^1$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): fan$^1$
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: faan$^1$
*** Yale: fāan
*** Cantonese Pinyin: faan$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: fan$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /faːn⁵⁵/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: fan$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /fan³³/

#### Definitions

返 (Cantonese)
* to return (to); to come or go back (to)
    返鄉下／返乡下 [Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ hoeng$^1$ haa$^{6-2}$ [Jyutping] ― to go back to one's hometown
    返屋企 [Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ uk$^1$ kei$^2$ [Jyutping] ― to go home
* to go to
    返工 [Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ gung$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to go to work
    返學／返学 [Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ hok$^6$ [Jyutping] ― to go to school
    返教會／返教会 [Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ gaau$^3$ wui$^{6-2}$ [Jyutping] ― to go to church
    返part-time [Hong Kong Cantonese] ― faan$^1$ paat$^{1-}$ taam$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to work part-time
       keoi$^5$ gam$^1$ jat$^6$ jau$^5$ mou$^5$ faan$^1$ aa$^3$? [Jyutping]
       Did he go to school/work today?
* back, returning to a previous state
    擠返喺嗰度／挤返喺嗰度 [Cantonese] ― zai$^1$ faan$^1$ hai$^2$ go$^2$ dou$^6$ [Jyutping] ― to put (something) back there
    換返件衫／换返件衫 [Cantonese] ― wun$^6$ faan$^1$ gin$^6$ saam$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to change back one's clothes
    打返佢 [Cantonese] ― daa$^2$ faan$^1$ keoi$^5$ [Jyutping] ― to return him a hit; to hit him back
    救唔返 [Cantonese] ― gau$^3$ m$^4$ faan$^1$ [Jyutping] ― unable to be saved: unsalvageable, beyond hope, etc.
    諗返舊陣時／谂返旧阵时 [Cantonese] ― nam$^2$ faan$^1$ gau$^6$ zan$^6$ si$^{4-2}$ [Jyutping] ― thinking back to older times
    去返轉頭／去返转头 [Cantonese] ― heoi$^3$ faan$^1$ zyun$^3$ tau$^4$ [Jyutping] ― to go back; to turn around
    搵返／揾返 [Cantonese] ― wan$^2$ faan$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to find (something that was lost)
    整返好 [Cantonese] ― zing$^2$ faan$^1$ hou$^2$ [Jyutping] ― to repair; to fix
    病返 [Cantonese] ― beng$^6$ faan$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to fall ill again
    好返 [Cantonese] ― hou$^2$ faan$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to recover (from an illness)
    開始喐返／开始喐返 [Cantonese] ― hoi$^1$ ci$^2$ juk$^1$ faan$^1$ [Jyutping] ― to start to move again
    寫返英文／写返英文 [Cantonese] ― se$^2$ faan$^1$ jing$^1$ man$^{4-2}$ [Jyutping] ― use English instead
    仲未覆返你 [Cantonese] ― zung$^6$ mei$^6$ fuk$^1$ faan$^1$ nei$^5$ [Jyutping] ― still hasn't replied you
* To be left over, to be remaining
       di$^1$ je$^5$ dou$^1$ hai$^6$ lau$^4$ faan$^1$ ting$^1$ jat$^6$ sin$^1$ zou$^6$ [Jyutping]
       Leave the things here first; I'll do them tomorrow.
       From: 開放詞典 / 开放词典 [Kaifang Cidian]
       zing$^6$ faan$^1$ dei$^6$ lei$^5$ mei$^6$ haau$^2$ jyun$^4$ [Jyutping]
       I have just the Geography test left.
* Used after verbs for starting a new, good action.
       cung$^1$ faan$^1$ go$^3$ loeng$^4$ [Jyutping]
       to enjoy a shower
    寫返啲嘢／写返啲嘢 [Cantonese] ― se$^2$ faan$^1$ di$^1$ je$^5$ [Jyutping] ― to write something
       zap$^1$ faan$^1$ zai$^1$ [Jyutping]
       to go and have sex
       From: 開放詞典 / 开放词典 [Kaifang Cidian]
       dak$^1$ haan$^4$ zung$^6$ hai$^6$ zung$^1$ ji$^3$ jam$^2$ faan$^1$ loeng$^5$ bui$^1$. [Jyutping]
       Nothing beats downing two glasses in my spare time.
** 1996, “倒轉地球”, in 李敏 (lyrics), 在乎您, performed by 劉德華:
       jat$^1$ hei$^2$ giu$^3$ waan$^2$ faan$^1$ zuk$^1$ gau$^3$, jat$^1$ hei$^2$ tiu$^3$ fau$^2$ zak$^1$ saang$^1$ sau$^3$ [Jyutping]
       (please add an English translation of this usage example)

##### Synonyms

* (to return):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 回, 歸 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 回, 返回, 回歸 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 回 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 回 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 回 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 回 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 轉, 回 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 回 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 返 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 返 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 返 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 返 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 返 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 返 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 返 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 轉 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 轉 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 歸 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 轉 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 轉 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 轉 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 轉 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 轉 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 轉 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 轉, 倒 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 轉 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 倒 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 轉 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 轉 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 回, 轉 rare |

#### Compounds

* 好返 (hou$^2$ faan$^1$) (Cantonese)
* 留返拜山先講 / 留返拜山先讲 (lau$^4$ faan$^1$ baai$^3$ saan$^1$ sin$^1$ gong$^2$) (Cantonese)
* 返學 / 返学 (faan$^1$ hok$^6$) (Cantonese)
* 返工 (faan$^1$ gung$^1$) (Cantonese)
* 返發 / 返发 (faan$^1$ faat$^3$) (Cantonese)
* 返貨 / 返货 (faan$^1$ fo$^3$) (Cantonese)

### Etymology 3
#### Pronunciation

* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): tńg / túiⁿ
    (Teochew, Peng'im): deng$^2$
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Lukang, Sanxia, Taipei, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Taichung, Singapore)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tńg
*** Tâi-lô: tńg
*** Phofsit Daibuun: dngr
*** IPA (Singapore): /tŋ̍⁴²/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /tŋ̍⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Lukang): /tŋ̍⁵⁵/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Taipei, Tainan, Kinmen): /tŋ̍⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /tŋ̍⁴¹/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Yilan, Penang)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: túiⁿ
*** Tâi-lô: tuínn
*** Phofsit Daibuun: dvuie
*** IPA (Zhangzhou, Yilan): /tuĩ⁵³/
*** IPA (Penang): /tuĩ⁴⁴⁵/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: deng$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tṳ́ng
*** Sinological IPA : /tɯŋ⁵²/

#### Definitions

返
* (Southern Min) Alternative form of 轉 / 转 (tńg, “to go back; to return”)

## Japanese

| Shinjitai | 返 |
| Kyūjitai | 返󠄁 返+&#xE0101; (Adobe-Japan1) |
| Kyūjitai | 返󠄄 返+&#xE0104; (Hanyo-Denshi) (Moji_Joho) |
| The displayed kanji may be different from the image due to your environment. See here for details. |||

### Kanji

(Third grade kyōiku kanji)
* to come back, to return, to go back to

#### Readings

* Go-on: ほん (hon)
* Kan-on: はん (han)
* Kan’yō-on: へん (hen, Jōyō)
* Kun: かえす (kaesu, 返す, Jōyō)、かえる (kaeru, 返る, Jōyō)

#### See also

* 返(かえ)る (kaeru)
* 返(かえ)す (kaesu)

### References

* ↑ “返”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎ (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2025

## Korean
### Hanja

返 (eumhun 돌이킬 반 (dorikil ban))
* hanja form of 반 (“return, revert to, restore”)

## Vietnamese
### Han character

返: Hán Nôm readings: phản
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.