交还 (jiāo huán) — to hand back, to return (something)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to return or hand something back to its owner (documents, borrowed items, official papers). More formal than 还 huán and emphasizes a deliberate transfer back, often in official or written contexts.

verb
to hand backto return (something)

Examples

  • 交还。
    Qǐng bǎ shū jiāo huán gěi wǒ.
    Please hand the book back to me.
  • 交还。
    Tā jiāo huán le jiè lái de gōng jù.
    He returned the borrowed tools.
  • 交还。
    Nǐ yīng gāi zài qī xiàn qián jiāo huán hù zhào.
    You should return the passport before the deadline.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

交jiāohand over
还háireturn

交 ('hand over') and 还 ('return') together mean give something back.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 還; 还 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
睘
睘qióng還hái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 還 pairs 辵 (walk) with 睘 as a sound part for 'go back; return'; the simplified 还 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 还 →

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