1. to come or go back to a place
返回，回到（某個地方）
She will return home tomorrow.
她明天會回家。
He returned to his office after lunch.
午餐後他回到了辦公室。
When did you return from your trip?
你什麼時候旅行回來的？
Return Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
return
verb
快速理解
What does "Return" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Return"?
「return」主要指回到原處或恢復原狀，也常用於歸還物品或產生回報。
- 1
返回
EN: to go or come back to a place
翻譯: 回到某個地方
- 2
歸還
EN: to give, send, or put something back
翻譯: 將某物還回去
- 3
恢復
EN: to go back to a previous state or condition
翻譯: 恢復到先前的狀態或情況
- 4
產生回報
EN: to yield a profit or result
翻譯: 產生利潤或結果
小提醒：注意「return」本身已包含「back」的意思，因此「return back」是冗餘的說法，只需說「return」即可。
發音（How to Pronounce "Return" in English）
How to pronounce "Return" in English?"Return" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Return" from YouTube Videos
South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News
BBC News
“We think these measures will help North Korea return to talks.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Return"?How does "Return" change by context?
2. to give, send, or put something back where it came from
歸還，送回，放回（原處）
Please return the book to the library.
請把書歸還給圖書館。
I need to return this faulty product to the store.
我需要把這個有瑕疵的產品退回商店。
He returned the keys to his pocket.
他把鑰匙放回口袋。
3. to happen or exist again
恢復，再現
The pain returned after a few hours.
幾個小時後疼痛又出現了。
Peace has finally returned to the region.
和平終於回到了這個地區。
His confidence returned after the successful presentation.
在成功的簡報之後，他的信心恢復了。
4. to produce a profit or result
產生（利潤或結果）
The investment returned a high profit.
這項投資帶來了高額利潤。
His hard work returned excellent results.
他的努力帶來了出色的成果。
5. to say or write something in reply
回應，答覆
"I don't think so," he returned calmly.
「我不這麼認為，」他平靜地回應道。
She returned a witty remark to his comment.
她對他的評論回了一句機智的話。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Return"?How to make natural sentences with "Return"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| return + noun | 歸還某物 | Please return the book when you're finished. (請在讀完後歸還這本書。) |
| return + from + place | 從某地回來 | She will return from her trip tomorrow. (她明天將從旅程中回來。) |
| return + to + place/person | 回到某地/某人身邊 | He decided to return to his hometown. (他決定回到家鄉。) |
| return + to + V | 回去做某事 | After the break, we returned to discuss the main issue. (休息後，我們回去討論主要議題。) |
| return + object + to + noun | 將某物歸還給某人/某處 | You must return the keys to the front desk. (你必須將鑰匙歸還給前台。) |
| return + as + noun | 以...身分回來 | The champion returned as a hero. (這位冠軍以英雄的身分歸來。) |
| return + no object | 返回 | What time does your father usually return? (你父親通常什麼時候回來？) |
| return + adjective | 回來時處於某種狀態 | He returned home exhausted. (他回到家時筋疲力盡。) |
用法說明
How is "Return" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Return"?
return doing vs return to do
- return to + V (return to do) 通常指「回到某個地方或狀態，目的是為了做某事」，強調目的或意圖。
- return + V-ing (return doing) 則較為少見，通常出現在特定上下文中，表示「恢復做某個持續性或習慣性的動作」，強調動作的恢復或繼續。
- 在表示「回到某地做某事」時，使用 return to + 地點 + to + V 或 return to + V 是標準且自然的用法。 EN: After the meeting, he returned to work on the project. 翻譯: 會議結束後，他回去繼續處理那個專案。
EN:She hopes to return to visit her hometown next year.
翻譯:她希望明年能回去拜訪她的家鄉。
總結建議
在表達「返回以進行某個動作」時，使用「return to + 動詞原形」的結構是最清晰且常見的選擇。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Return" and similar words?How to choose "Return" vs alternatives?
return vs come back
「return」較正式且常用於書面語，強調「歸還」或「返回」的動作本身；「come back」較口語，強調「回來」的狀態或結果。
return vs give back
「return」較正式且中性，可指歸還物品或返回某地；「give back」較口語，僅指「歸還物品」，常帶有「物歸原主」的意味。
return vs revert
「return」泛指返回原狀、原處或歸還物品；「revert」較正式且專業，特指「恢復到先前的狀態、習慣或主題」，常見於法律、技術或正式文件。
口語用法
How is "Return" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Return"?
引述
在口語中，return 常用來引述或轉述某人的話，特別是關於歸還物品或返回某地的決定或要求。
EN: She was like, "Can you return my book by Friday?"
翻譯: 她說：「你能在星期五前還我的書嗎？」
EN:He just texted, "I'll return home around eight."
翻譯:他剛傳訊息說：「我大概八點左右回家。」
語氣強調
在非正式對話中，return 有時會與一些副詞或短語連用，以強調動作的立即性、必要性或重複性。
EN: You need to return that call ASAP.
翻譯: 你得盡快回那通電話。
EN:I keep having to return to the same old problem.
翻譯:我總是不斷得回頭處理同一個老問題。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或短暫停頓時，說話者可能會用 return to... 或 and return... 這類結構來接續話題，表示回到先前的討論點。
EN: So, to return to your earlier point about the budget...
翻譯: 那麼，回到你早先關於預算的觀點…
EN:The meeting was long, and, um, to return to the main issue...
翻譯:會議很長，然後，嗯，回到主要問題上…
正式寫作注意：在正式書寫或學術文章中，應避免使用上述過於口語化的引述方式（如 She was like...）或填充停頓詞（如 um）。建議使用更精確的動詞（如 replied, stated）和更流暢的句子結構來表達「返回」或「歸還」的概念。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Return"?What fixed phrases with "Return" should I remember?
return to
return to [place/activity/state]
回到（某地、某活動或某種狀態）
return home
return home
回家
return a favor
return a favor
回報恩惠；還人情
return fire
return fire
還擊；回火
return a call
return a call / return someone's call
回電話
return an item
return an item (to a store)
退貨（給商店）
return to normal
return to normal
恢復正常
return a verdict
return a verdict
宣佈裁決
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Return"?Which "Return" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I will return back to my office.
✓I will return to my office.
"return" already means "to go back" or "to come back", so adding "back" is redundant. This is a common redundancy error.
×I returned the book to the library yesterday.
✓I returned the book to the library yesterday.
The sentence is grammatically correct, but learners often confuse it with "I gave back the book." The key point is that "return" is the precise verb for this action; "give back" is a phrasal verb alternative. The mistake is not using the most direct word.
×He returned me the money.
✓He returned the money to me.
The verb "return" does not take an indirect object directly before the direct object like "give" or "send" (e.g., "He gave me the money"). The correct structure is "return + direct object + to + person".
×I'm looking forward to return to school.
✓I'm looking forward to returning to school.
After the preposition "to" in the phrase "look forward to", a gerund (verb-ing) is required, not the base form of the verb.
×The investment returns a high profit.
✓The investment yields a high return. / The investment returns a high profit.
This is a nuance error. While "return" can be a verb meaning "to yield (a profit)", it is more common and natural to use "return" as a noun ("a high return") in financial contexts. The verb "yield" or "generate" is often preferred for clarity. The given "wrong" sentence is not strictly ungrammatical but is a less idiomatic choice.
×When did you return back from Japan?
✓When did you return from Japan?
Similar to mistake #1, this is a redundancy error. "Return from" already implies coming back from a place. "Back" is unnecessary and sounds unnatural.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Return"?What are tense/participle forms of "Return"?
returns(3rd_singular)returning(present_participle)returned(past)returned(past_participle)