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Kotomora

帰

homecoming, arrive at, lead to, result in

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • キ

Kun'yomi

  • かえ.る
  • かえ.す
  • おく.る
  • とつ.ぐ

Meaning

帰 centers on returning to a point of origin: coming home, arriving back, or a process leading to a final result.

Most common words using 帰

24 of 242
  • 帰るかえる
    N5

    to return; to come home; to go home; to go back

  • 帰りかえり
    N4

    return; coming back

  • 復帰ふっき
    N1

    return; reversion; comeback; reinstatement

  • 帰宅きたく
    N3

    returning home; going home; coming home; getting home

  • 帰国きこく
    N4

    return to one's country

  • 帰還きかん

    return (home); repatriation

  • お帰りおかえり
    N2

    return

  • 持ち帰りもちかえり

    takeout (food); take-out; takeaway; carry-out; to-go

  • 帰省きせい
    N2

    homecoming; returning home

  • 回帰かいき
    N1

    return (to); revolution; recurrence

  • 帰り道かえりみち

    the way back; the way home; return trip

  • 日帰りひがえり
    N3

    day trip

  • 帰属きぞく

    belonging; ascription; attribution; imputation; possession; jurisdiction

  • 帰すかえす
    N2

    to send (someone) back; to send (someone) home

  • 帰化きか
    N1

    naturalization; naturalisation

  • お帰りなさいおかえりなさい
    N5

    welcome home

  • 持ち帰るもちかえる

    to take home; to carry home; to bring back home; to take out (e.g. food)

  • 帰路きろ

    return journey; one's way home; one's way back

  • 里帰りさとがえり

    returning home to one's parents (orig. of a married person); visiting one's parents (for a prolonged period of stay)

  • 帰依きえ

    becoming a devout believer; (religious) conversion

  • 帰途きと

    (the) way home; return trip; (the) way back

  • 帰京ききょう
    N1

    returning (home) to Tokyo; returning to the capital

  • 帰休ききゅう

    leave; furlough

  • 社会復帰しゃかいふっき

    rehabilitation (in society)

Explore all words using 帰 →

Study

Etymology

帰 is the modern simplified form of 歸. The older form combines a left component related to stopping or arriving with 帚 on the right, which likely contributed the sound. The modern simplification keeps the right side 帚 and replaces the left side with a simpler shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The right side 帚 looks like a broom. Picture sweeping your way back home after a long journey, arriving at your doorstep.

Reading mnemonic

For キ, imagine a key turning in the lock as you return home: key -> キ, and the door opens to welcome you back.