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Kotomora

戻

re-, return, revert, resume, restore, go backwards

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 1,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • レイ

Kun'yomi

  • もど.す
  • もど.る

Meaning

戻 centers on going back to a previous state or place: returning, reverting, resuming, or restoring something. The sense of going backwards is a natural extension of this idea.

Most common words using 戻

20 of 82
  • 戻るもどる
    N4

    to turn back (e.g. half-way)

  • 戻すもどす
    N4

    to put back; to return; to give back; to restore (to a previous state, e.g. defrosting, reconstituting, reconciling); to turn back (e.g. clock hand)

  • 取り戻すとりもどす
    N2

    to take back; to get back; to regain; to recover; to restore; to recoup

  • 逆戻りぎゃくもどり

    retrogression; reversal; relapse; doubling back; backtracking

  • 後戻りあともどり
    N1

    going backward; turning back; backtracking; doubling back

  • 払い戻しはらいもどし
    N3

    repayment; refund; payback

  • 買い戻しかいもどし

    repurchase; redemption

  • 呼び戻しよびもどし

    pulling body slam

  • 出戻りでもどり

    woman who has divorced and moved back to her parents; moving back to one's parents after getting divorced

  • 連れ戻すつれもどす

    to bring back

  • 呼び戻すよびもどす

    to call (someone) back; to recall; to call home

  • 買い戻すかいもどす

    to buy back; to redeem

  • 引き戻すひきもどす
    N1

    to bring back; to restore

  • 舞い戻るまいもどる

    to come back

  • 払戻金はらいもどしきん

    refund; rebate; repayment

  • 押し戻すおしもどす

    to push back; to press back; to force back

  • 払い戻すはらいもどす
    N3

    to repay; to pay back; to refund; to reimburse

  • 返戻へんれい

    returning; giving back

  • 立ち戻るたちもどる

    to return; to come back

  • 差し戻すさしもどす

    to send back; to refer back

Explore all words using 戻 →

Study

Etymology

戻 is the modern simplified form of 戾. The older form combines 户 (door) with 犬 (dog), possibly suggesting a dog returning through a door. The modern form replaces 犬 with 大, but the core idea of returning remains.

Meaning mnemonic

The outer 户 looks like a door, and the inner 大 looks like a person with arms outstretched. Picture someone returning home and opening the door wide to come back inside.

Reading mnemonic

For レイ, imagine a person returning home and laying down to rest: lay -> レイ, and the door 户 is wide open for their return.