Japanese word

取り返す

Pronunciation

Romajitorikaesu

Meaning

  • verbget back

Example

盗まれた財布を取り返します。nusu ma re ta sai fu o to ri kae shi ma su

I will get my stolen wallet back.

Illustration for 取り返す (get back)

More examples

彼は裁判で奪われた土地を取り返しました。kare wa sai ban de uba wa re ta to chi o to ri kae shi ma shi ta

He got back the land that had been taken from him in court.

Core concept

Shows an effort to recover a lost possession, opportunity, or amount and restore it to its former condition.

Common phrases

  • 失った時間を取り返すushina tta ji kan o to ri kae su

    make up for lost time

  • 主導権を取り返すshu dō ken o to ri kae su

    regain the initiative

  • お金を取り返すo kane o to ri kae su

    get one's money back

Similar words

取り戻すtorimodosu: To get possession of something again after losing it or having it taken.
奪回するdakkaisuru: To regain control of land, power, or another place held by an opposing force.
挽回するbankaisuru: To restore a lost advantage, status, or opportunity through a successful effort.
回収するkaishūsuru: To retrieve distributed goods, borrowed items, or money that is due.

Definition in Japanese

相手に渡した物や失ったものを再び手元に戻すこと。また、不足や遅れを補うこと。ai te ni wata shi ta mono ya ushina tta mo no o futata bi te moto ni modo su ko to ma ta fu soku ya oku re o ogina u ko to

Word origin

The word 取り返す (torikaesu) joins 取り (tori), the continuative form of 取る (toru, "take"), and 返す (kaesu, "return"), with the combined sense of taking back.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 取り返しのつかない失敗 (torikaeshi no tsukanai shippai) means an irreversible mistake, while 取り返す (torikaesu) presents recovery as still possible.

Other meanings

  • make up forverb
  • catch up onverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 取り返しtorikaeshirecoverynoun

Word lists with this word