General noun for returning, a reaction, or recovery. Often used in compounds like 戻り道 (return path) or 戻りが悪い (poor recovery/reaction).
I'm waiting for him to come back.
I'm waiting for his return.
このスイッチは戻りが遅い。
This switch has a slow return (reaction).
Computing term: the value or control returned from a function or procedure.
関数の戻り値を変数に代入する。
Assign the return value of the function to a variable.
今日は戻りが遅くなりそうです。
I think I'll be late getting back today.
I stopped by the supermarket on the way back.
The return train was crowded.
戻り is a general noun for returning or reverting, while 復帰 specifically means returning to a former role, position, or normal condition after an absence.
帰り specifically means returning to one's home or starting point, while 戻り is broader and can mean going back to a previous state or place, often in compounds like 戻り道.
行き refers to the outward trip or going, while 戻り refers to the return trip, forming the common pair 行きと戻り (going and returning).
帰り means returning home or coming back from somewhere, while 戻り means returning to an original position, state, or value, not necessarily home.
戻り describes something or someone coming back on its own (intransitive), while 戻し describes the act of putting or giving something back (transitive).
retrogression; reversal; relapse; doubling back; backtracking
going back; turning back; backtracking · regression; relapse; returning to a bad state
divorced woman returning to her parents' home; returning to one's parents after divorce · returning to a former workplace; boomerang employee · departing from and returning to the same port
slight recovery; small rally
return value
Standard kanji form; high-frequency news and common usage.
Noun form of the verb 戻る (もどる, to return). The kanji 戻 means 'return' or 'go back'.
return of a package to depot after failed delivery
going and returning; round trip · divorced woman