Translation guide
The English phrase "put back" has several distinct meanings, from returning something to its original place, to postponing an event, to drinking quickly. This guide covers the most common uses for English-speaking learners of Japanese.
To place an object back where it was before, or to return it to a container, shelf, etc.
General verb for putting something back to its original location or state. Transitive.
Please put the book back on the shelf.
Put it back where it was after you use it.
Emphasizes returning to the original state or position. Often used for settings, arrangements, or abstract things.
Please put the settings back to default.
To put things away, tidy up. Implies putting items back in their proper storage place.
Put your toys back (away).
To delay or reschedule something to a later time.
Formal term for postponing an event, meeting, or deadline.
The meeting has been put back to next week.
To delay something, often used for schedules or plans. Less formal than 延期する.
To put off, postpone, especially for decisions or problems. Slightly negative nuance of procrastination.
The issue was put back (put off).
To consume a drink rapidly, often alcohol.
To hang up the phone or return the handset to its cradle.
To adjust a clock to an earlier time, or to move time backwards.
To set a clock back. Use 戻す for the action of turning hands or changing digital display.
Put the clock back one hour when daylight saving ends.
English uses 'put back' for many abstract actions (put back a meeting, put back a decision). Japanese often uses specific verbs like 延期する or 遅らせる. Directly translating 'put back' as 戻す in these contexts will sound unnatural.
put back a meeting (incorrect)
戻す (modosu) means to put something back to its original place or state. 返す (kaesu) means to return something to its owner. Use 戻す for location/state, 返す for ownership.
出発を1時間遅らせましょう。
Let's put back our departure by an hour.
He put back his mug of beer.
Don't put the phone back (hang up).