Japanese word

帰り道

Pronunciation

Romajikaerimichi

Meaning

  • nounway home

Example

帰り道に友達に会いました。kae ri michi ni tomo dachi ni a i ma shi ta

I met a friend on the way home.

Illustration for 帰り道 (way home)

More examples

帰り道に本屋へ寄りました。kae ri michi ni hon ya e yo ri ma shi ta

I stopped by a bookstore on the way home.

Core concept

Focuses on the path taken during the journey back to a familiar destination such as home.

Common phrases

  • 帰り道に寄るkae ri michi ni yo ru

    stop by on the way home

  • 帰り道を急ぐkae ri michi o iso gu

    hurry home

Similar words

帰りkaeri: The journey or time spent traveling back after leaving a place.
帰途kito: A route taken when returning, often in formal or literary language.

Definition in Japanese

帰るときにたどる、外出先から家などまでの道。kae ru to ki ni ta do ru gai shutsu saki ka ra ie na do ma de no michi

Word origin

The native Japanese compound 帰り道 (kaerimichi) is formed from 帰る (kaeru, "to return") and 道 (michi, "road or path"), with 帰り (kaeri, "returning") as its first element.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 帰り道 (kaerimichi) can describe what happens after leaving a place, such as meeting someone or stopping at a shop on the route home.

Other meanings

  • way backnoun
  • return tripnoun

Word lists with this word