Readings: キ (Onyomi), かえ.る, かえ.す (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Return, go home, send back
The kanji 帰 (き) depicts a person (similar to 止, indicating stopping or going back) returning to their home or village, often represented by elements related to a shelter or a place of belonging (historically, potentially related to 帚, broom, suggesting domesticity). It symbolizes the act of returning or going back to one’s origin or base.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 帰 has 10 strokes. It begins with the top-left components, followed by the elements in the middle, and concludes with the bottom radical (止). Pay attention to the balance and flow of the strokes.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 止 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キ (KI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- かえ.る (kae.ru)
- かえ.す (kae.su)
Common Words Using 帰
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 帰国 | きこく | return to one’s country |
| 帰省 | きせい | homecoming, returning to one’s hometown |
| 帰宅 | きたく | returning home |
| 帰還 | きかん | return, repatriation |
| 帰化 | きか | naturalization (of a foreigner) |
| 帰路 | きろ | the way back, return journey |
| 帰結 | きけつ | conclusion, result |
| 帰属 | きぞく | attribution, belonging to |
| 帰任 | きにん | returning to one’s post |
| 帰休 | ききゅう | temporary layoff, furlough |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 帰る | かえる | to return, to go home (intransitive) |
| 帰り | かえり | return (noun) |
| 帰す | かえす | to send back, to return (transitive) |
| 日帰り | ひがえり | day trip (returning on the same day) |
| 持ち帰り | もちかえり | take-out, to take home |
| 行き帰り | ゆきかえり | coming and going, round trip |
| 立ち帰り | たちかえり | stopping by on the way back |
| 呼び帰す | よびかえす | to call back |
| 読み帰り | よみかえり | (less common) reading and returning |
| 思い帰り | おもいかえり | (less common) to reconsider, to think back |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は来週日本に帰ります。
Kana: かれはらいしゅうにほんにかえります。
Romaji: Kare wa raishū Nihon ni kaerimasu.
English: He will return to Japan next week.
Japanese: 仕事の後、すぐに家に帰った。
Kana: しごとのあと、すぐにいえにかえった。
Romaji: Shigoto no ato, sugu ni ie ni kaetta.
English: After work, I immediately went home.
Japanese: 夏休みには実家に帰省する予定です。
Kana: なつやすみにはじっかにきせいするよていです。
Romaji: Natsuyasumi ni wa jikka ni kisei suru yotei desu.
English: I plan to return to my parents’ home during the summer vacation.
Japanese: 忘れ物をしたので、一度会社に帰った。
Kana: わすれものをしたので、いちどかいしゃにかえった。
Romaji: Wasuremono o shita node, ichido kaisha ni kaetta.
English: I forgot something, so I went back to the company once.
Japanese: 夕食は家で食べるので、持ち帰りにしてください。
Kana: ゆうしょくはいえでたべるので、もちかえりにしてください。
Romaji: Yūshoku wa ie de taberu node, mochikaeri ni shite kudasai.
English: I’ll eat dinner at home, so please make it for take-out.
Japanese: 彼はもうすぐ帰宅するだろう。
Kana: かれはもうすぐきたくするだろう。
Romaji: Kare wa mō sugu kitaku suru darō.
English: He will probably come home soon.
Japanese: この本、図書館に帰しておいてください。
Kana: このほん、としょかんにかえしておいてください。
Romaji: Kono hon, toshokan ni kaeshite oite kudasai.
English: Please return this book to the library.
Japanese: 私たちは日帰りで温泉に行った。
Kana: わたしたちはひがえりでおんせんにいった。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa higaeri de onsen ni itta.
English: We went to a hot spring on a day trip.
Japanese: 彼女は故郷へ帰路についた。
Kana: かのじょはこきょうへきろについた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa kokyō e kiro ni tsuita.
English: She started on her way back to her hometown.
Japanese: 病気の友達を呼び帰すことはできない。
Kana: びょうきのともだちをよびかえすことはできない。
Romaji: Byōki no tomodachi o yobikaesu koto wa dekinai.
English: I cannot call back my sick friend.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.