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Meaning of 返る(かえる) in Japanese

Japanese word definition and usage

Reading and JLPT level 返る, 反る JLPT 2

Kana Reading かえる

Romaji kaeru

Parts of speech

Godan verb with `ru` ending, intransitive verb

Meaning

to return; to come back; to go back
Parts of speech

Meaning

to turn over
Parts of speech

suffix, Godan verb with `ru` ending

Meaning

(after the -masu stem of a verb) (to become) extremely; (to become) completely

Example Sentences

返る, 反る, かえる used in context

汚い(きたない)行為(こうい)の報い(むくい)は必ず(かならず)自分(じぶん)に返って(かえる)くる。

What goes around comes around.
今(いま)(いま)片思い(かたおもい)(かたおもい)の人(じん)(じん)がいるのですが、片思い(かたおもい)(かたおもい)の人(じん)(じん)は今(いま)(いま)忙しくて(いそがしい)、メールが返ってきません(くる)。

There's someone I'm in (unrequited) love with, but that person is busy now and I don't get replies to my emails.
元気な(げんき)声(こえ)がそのまま返ってくる。杞憂(きゆう)だった(だ)かな・・・。

Her cheerful voice responded just like that. Guess I was worrying over nothing...
シャラポアのショットはとても早い(はやい)(はやい)のですが・・・早い(はやい)(はやい)球(たま)というのはその分(ふん)早く(はやく)ボールが返ってくるんです。

Sharapova's shots are very fast but...a fast ball means that it will come back that much faster.
かくかくしかじかで、と事情(じじょう)を説明(せつめい)した(する)のだが、あんまり(あまり)興味(きょうみ)なさそうな相槌(あいづち)しか返ってこなかった(くる)。

I explained the situation, as this, that and such and such, but they just nodded along without showing much interest.
彼女(かのじょ)は病院(びょういん)に連れていかれた(つれていく)時(とき)に正気(しょうき)にかえった。

She came to herself when she was taken to the hospital.

Verb Conjugations

Common conjugated forms

Non-Past

Plain

返る

Plain Polite

返ります

Negative

返らない

Negative Polite

返りません

Past

Plain

返った

Plain Polite

返りました

Negative

返らなかった

Negative Polite

返りませんでした

Plain

返って

Plain Polite

返りまして

Negative

Negative Polite

Passive

Plain

返られる

Plain Polite

返られます

Negative

返られない

Negative Polite

返られません

Related Study Lists

Study lists that include this entry

JLPT N2 Study List
1910 words · 400 kanji
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Related Kanji

Kanji found in this word

返 JLPT 3

return, answer, fade, repay

On: ヘン

Kun: かえ.す, -かえ.す, かえ.る, -かえ.る

7 strokes

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反 JLPT 3

anti-

On: ハン, ホン, タン, ホ

Kun: そ.る, そ.らす, かえ.す, かえ.る, -かえ.る

4 strokes

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