返 meaning and stroke order
To restore, to return, to revert to
How to write 返, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 返
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to return (to)
How 返 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. To walk 辶 backwards 反; 反 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 辶 (to walk), shared by 131 characters on this site.
How to remember 返
返 combines the walking radical 辶 with 反 (fǎn), which means reverse or opposite. Picture someone walking in the reverse direction to go back where they came from, and 反 also gives the sound fǎn.
返 is rarely used alone in everyday speech. It appears mostly in compounds and more formal or written contexts, such as travel, schools, and official notices. Example: 我们明天返回北京。(Wǒmen míngtiān fǎnhuí Běijīng.) We return to Beijing tomorrow.
Common mistake: Learners often write 反 when they mean 返, for example writing 反回 instead of 返回. Remember that 反 means opposite or reverse, while 返 with the walking radical 辶 is about physically going back.
Common words with 返
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 返回 | fǎnhuí | to return to; to come (or go) back | HSK 5 |
| 重返 | chóngfǎn | to return to | HSK 7-9 |
| 往返 | wǎngfǎn | to go back and forth; to go to and fro; to do a round trip | HSK 7-9 |
| 返还 | fǎnhuán | restitution; return of something to its original owner | HSK 7-9 |
| 返航 | fǎnháng | to return to the point of departure | |
| 返校 | fǎnxiào | to return to school | |
| 遣返 | qiǎnfǎn | to repatriate (e.g. prisoners of war); to send back | |
| 返程 | fǎnchéng | return trip; to make a return trip; to return |
返 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 返
How many strokes are in 返?
返 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 返 mean?
返 (fǎn) means to restore, to return, to revert to. A common word with it is 返回 (fǎnhuí), meaning "to return to; to come (or go) back".
How do you pronounce 返?
返 is pronounced fǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 返?
The radical of 返 is 辶, which carries the idea of "to walk". Dictionaries list 返 under this radical.
Is 返 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 返 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 返回 and 回来?
回来 (huílai) is the everyday spoken way to say come back. 返回 (fǎnhuí) is more formal and common in writing, announcements, and software buttons like a Back button.
How do you use 往返 when buying tickets?
往返 (wǎngfǎn) means round trip, so 往返票 (wǎngfǎn piào) is a round-trip ticket. A one-way ticket is 单程票 (dānchéng piào).