Japanese word

帰省

Pronunciation

Romajikisei

Meaning

  • nounreturning home

Example

夏休みに帰省する人が多いです。natsu yasu mi ni ki sei su ru hito ga ō i de su

Many people return home during summer vacation.

Illustration for 帰省 (returning home)

More examples

年末の帰省に備えて、早めに切符を買います。nen matsu no ki sei ni sona e te haya me ni kippu o ka i ma su

I buy my ticket early in preparation for returning home at the end of the year.

Core concept

It focuses on going back to one's familiar home and family after living away from them.

Common phrases

  • 帰省するki sei su ru

    return home

  • 帰省ラッシュki sei ra sshu

    rush to return home

  • 帰省の予定ki sei no yo tei

    plans for returning home

Similar words

帰郷kikyō: Going back to the town where one grew up after living elsewhere.
里帰りsatogaeri: Going back to one's family home for a short visit.

Definition in Japanese

普段離れて暮らしている故郷や家族のもとへ帰ること。fu dan hana re te ku ra shi te i ru ko kyō ya ka zoku no mo to e kae ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 帰省 (kisei) combines 帰 (ki, "return") with 省 (sei, "visit one's parents"), so its parts express returning to visit one's family.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use return home for many kinds of trips, but 帰省 (kisei) commonly refers to going back to one's hometown or family home for a visit.

Opposites

Related words

  • 帰省者kiseishaperson returning homenoun

Word lists with this word