Meaning
(a measure word for matters or actions) a time; to circle; to go back; to turn around; to answer; to return
Chinese: 返回、回转或回复。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “hui” becomes a different word in each tone. 回 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 回来huí laito return; to come back
- 回家huí jiāto return home
- 回到huí dàoto return to
- 回答huí dáto reply; to answer; reply; answer
- 回去huí quto return; to go back
Example Sentence
他每天六点回家。Tā měi tiān liù diǎn huí jiā.He goes home at six every day.
他Tāhe每天měi tiānevery day六liùsix点diǎnto touch briefly回家huí jiāto return home。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of a swirl or concentric whirlpool — a box within a box. It means ‘to return / go back / to circle’.
A way to remember it
A square spiralling inside a square — coming back around.
Easy to confuse with
- 口‘Mouth’: just a single box; 回 is one box nested inside another.