返す
かえす · kaesu
To return (something), to restore, to put back
- to turn over, to turn upside down, to overturn
- to pay back, to retaliate, to reciprocate
- to respond (with), to retort, to reply, to say back
Other ways to say “to return” in Japanese →
high first, then falls · what is pitch accent?
Example sentences
図書館で本を返す必要がある。
としょかんでほんをかえすひつようがある。
I need to return the book at the library.
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Conjugation
| Polite (ます形) | 返しますかえします |
| Polite negative (ません) | 返しませんかえしません |
| Polite past (ました) | 返しましたかえしました |
| Polite past negative (ませんでした) | 返しませんでしたかえしませんでした |
| Let us ~ (ましょう) | 返しましょうかえしましょう |
| Masu-stem (連用形) | 返しかえし |
| Want to ~ (たい形) | 返したいかえしたい |
| While ~ing (ながら) | 返しながらかえしながら |
| Te-form (て形) | 返してかえして |
| Plain past (た形) | 返したかえした |
| Tara-conditional (たら形) | 返したらかえしたら |
| Progressive (ている形) | 返しているかえしている |
| Plain negative (ない形) | 返さないかえさない |
| Plain past negative (なかった形) | 返さなかったかえさなかった |
| Negative te-form (なくて) | 返さなくてかえさなくて |
| Potential (可能形) | 返せるかえせる |
| Ba-conditional (条件形) | 返せばかえせば |
| Imperative (命令形) | 返せかえせ |
| Volitional (意向形) | 返そうかえそう |
| Passive (受身形) | 返されるかえされる |
| Causative (使役形) | 返させるかえさせる |
| Causative-passive (使役受身形) | 返させられるかえさせられる |
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Words that share a kanji
Questions
What does 返す mean?
To return (something), to restore, to put back. It can also mean: to turn over, to turn upside down, to overturn; to pay back, to retaliate, to reciprocate; to respond (with), to retort, to reply, to say back.
How do you pronounce 返す?
かえす (kaesu). Pitch accent: atamadaka — high first, then falls. Press Listen above to hear it.
What JLPT level is 返す?
JLPT N3 — intermediate. See the JLPT N3 guide.
How do I remember 返す?
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