回 huí — (a measure word for matters or actions) a time; to circle; to go back; to turn around; to answer; to return
他每天六点回家。Tā měi tiān liù diǎn huí jiā.He goes home at six every day.
Common words: 回来 (huí lai)、回家 (huí jiā)、回到 (huí dào)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to return"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to return", including 回 (huí), 找 (zhǎo), 归 (guī), 返 (fǎn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to return" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 回 (huí), 找 (zhǎo), 归 (guī), 返 (fǎn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span huí, zhǎo, guī, fǎn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 回 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 回 huí(a measure word for matters or actions) a time; to circle; to go back; to turn around; to answer; to returnUseful words: 回来, 回家
- 找 zhǎoto try to find; to look for; to call on (sb); to find; to seek; to returnUseful words: 找到, 找出
- 归 guīto go back; to returnUseful words: 归还, 归纳
- 返 fǎnto return (to)Useful words: 返回, 往返
Common words for these 4 "to return" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 回 (huí) — so "to return" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
回来huí laito return; to come back回家huí jiāto return home回到huí dàoto return to找到zhǎo dàoto find找出zhǎo chūto find; to search out寻找xún zhǎoto seek; to look for归还guī huánto return sth; to revert归纳guī nàto sum up; to summarize; to conclude from facts; induction (method of deduction in logic)归根到底guī gēn dào dǐafter all; in the final analysis; ultimately返回fǎn huíto return to; to come (or go) back
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "to return".
找 zhǎo — to try to find; to look for; to call on (sb); to find; to seek; to return
我在找我的钥匙。Wǒ zài zhǎo wǒ de yào shi.I am looking for my keys.
Common words: 找到 (zhǎo dào)、找出 (zhǎo chū)、寻找 (xún zhǎo)
归 guī — to go back; to return
太晚了，我们该归家了。Tài wǎn le, wǒ men gāi guī jiā le.It is too late; we should head home.
Common words: 归还 (guī huán)、归纳 (guī nà)、归根到底 (guī gēn dào dǐ)
返 fǎn — to return (to)
旅行结束后，我们乘飞机返回了家乡。Lǚ xíng jié shù hòu, wǒ men chéng fēi jī fǎn huí le jiā xiāng.After the trip, we flew back to our hometown.
Common words: 返回 (fǎn huí)、往返 (wǎng fǎn)、重返 (chóng fǎn)
All 4 characters
Open 回、找、归 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.