Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
ぶり返す (ぶりかえす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-su), intransitive verb
come back ; return ; recur
Used for illnesses, symptoms, cold weather, or undesirable conditions that return after seeming to improve. Often implies a relapse or a return of something negative.
し
て
、
桜さくら
の
開かい
花か
が
遅おく
れ
た
。
The cold weather returned and the cherry blossoms bloomed late.
Written forms ぶり 返かえ す Usage 62%
Standard kana spelling; the kanji form 振り返す is rarely used.
振ぶ り 返かえ す Usage 19%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners should prefer the kana spelling.
ぶりかえす Usage 18%
Similar words 再さい 発はつ 再発 is a noun/suru-verb meaning 'recurrence' or 'relapse', often used in medical or formal contexts. ぶり返す is a more colloquial verb for the return of an illness or condition.
戻もど る 戻る is a general verb for 'return' (to a place or state). ぶり返す specifically implies a return of something negative, like an illness or bad weather.
Etymology Compound of ぶり (from 振り, 'swing' or 'state') and 返す (かえす, 'return'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but the word conveys a sense of something swinging back or reverting to a previous state.
