取とり返かえし

と

り

か

え

し

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

recovery; undoing; recall

Refers to getting something back, undoing a mistake, or recalling a past action. Often used in the phrase 取り返しがつかない (irreversible, cannot be undone).

失うしなった信しん頼らいの取とり返かえしは難むずかしい。
Recovering lost trust is difficult.
一いち度ど言いったことは取とり返かえしがつかない。
What has been said cannot be undone.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Expressions

取とり返かえしがつかないcannot be undone; irreversible; can't be recovered from
取とり返かえしのつかないirreversible; cannot be undone; irreparable

Kanji

取take, fetch, take up
返return, answer, fade

Related words

取とり戻もどすN2
取り返し is the noun for undoing or getting something back, while 取り戻す is the verb meaning 'to regain' or 'take back,' more often used for physically reclaiming something than for undoing a mistake.
回かい復ふくN3
回復 is a broader, more formal word for recovery (health, economy, condition), whereas 取り返し specifically implies undoing a mistake or reclaiming something lost, as in 取り返しがつかない.

Written forms

取とり返かえしUsage97%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
取とり返かえしUsage3%
Less common variant without okurigana; still encountered but less frequent.

Etymology

Compound of 取り (continuative form of 取る, 'to take') and 返し (continuative form of 返す, 'to return'). The literal meaning is 'taking back' or 'returning'.