Japanese word

引き返す

Pronunciation

Romajihikikaesu

Meaning

  • verbturn back

Example

雨が強いので、ここで引き返します。ame ga tsuyo i no de ko ko de hi ki kae shi ma su

The rain is heavy, so I will turn back here.

Illustration for 引き返す (turn back)

More examples

道が通行止めだったため、近くの駅まで引き返しました。michi ga tsū kō to me da tta ta me chika ku no eki ma de hi ki kae shi ma shi ta

Because the road was closed, I turned back to the nearest station.

Core concept

Expresses abandoning the current course and returning toward the place or point from which one came.

Common phrases

  • 来た道を引き返すki ta michi o hi ki kae su

    retrace one's steps

  • 駅へ引き返すeki e hi ki kae su

    go back to the station

  • 途中で引き返すto chū de hi ki kae su

    turn back partway

Similar words

戻るmodoru: To return to a previous place, position, or condition.
帰るkaeru: To return to a home, base, or place where one belongs.
退くshirizoku: To move back from a position or situation, often because continuing is difficult.

Definition in Japanese

目的地へ向かう途中で、来た方向へ戻る。moku teki chi e mu ka u to chū de ki ta hō kō e modo ru

Word origin

引き返す (hikikaesu, "turn back") is a compound verb formed from the stem 引き (hiki) of 引く (hiku, "pull") and 返す (kaesu, "return"), with the combined sense of pulling back and returning.

Usage tips

  • Unlike 帰る (kaeru, "go home or return"), 引き返す (hikikaesu) focuses on reversing direction before the intended destination is reached.

Other meanings

  • go backverb
  • retrace one's stepsverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 引き返しhikikaeshiturning backnoun

Word lists with this word