Translation guide
To cause something or someone to return to a place, state, or memory. This guide covers physical return, revival of trends, memories, and more.
To return with an object to the original location or to the speaker.
Used when you physically carry something back to where you came from. Common in daily life.
I brought back souvenirs.
Slightly more formal or written version of 持って帰る. Often used in business or instructions.
Used for bringing back a person or an animal.
I brought my friend back home.
To put something back in its original place. Not necessarily carrying it from afar.
To cause someone to remember something or feel a certain way again.
Causative form of 思い出す (to remember). Used when something triggers a memory.
To revive or reintroduce something that was popular or common in the past.
To revive or bring back into use. Common for trends, events, or systems.
To cause a person to return, often after an absence.
To restore a previous state, such as health, order, or functionality.
戻す means 'return something to its original place', but it doesn't imply carrying from a distance. For physically bringing something back to where you are now, use 持って帰る or 持ち帰る.
Return a book to the library (not 'bring back' from a trip)
持って帰る is the everyday spoken form. 持ち帰る is a compound verb often used in written instructions or formal contexts. Both mean 'take/bring back home'.
Can you bring back some milk from the store?
Often expressed with 買ってくる (buy and come back) rather than a direct 'bring back'.
I'll bring back the documents and check them.
Please bring the book back to the shelf.
This song brings back my school days.
Literally 'makes one feel nostalgia'. A natural way to say something brings back fond memories.
Old photos bring back nostalgia.
To evoke or summon memories, often used in literary or emotional contexts.
The scent brought back childhood memories.
The brand brought back 90s fashion.
To make something trendy again. Often used in fashion or pop culture.
That singer brought back an old hit song.
Intransitive: 'becomes popular again'. Used when the subject is the trend itself.
Bell-bottoms are coming back.
To call someone back, often from another place or situation.
The company brought him back from overseas.
To go and bring someone back, often with a sense of retrieval.
She brought back her runaway child.
To regain or recover something abstract like health, trust, or composure.
He finally brought back his health.
To restore or recover, often used for health or economic conditions.
The treatment brought back his strength.
Please take your trash back with you. (sign)
That song brings back so many memories.
The company is bringing back its classic logo.