Definition
归 (guī) has three main uses: (1) 'to return, go back' — more general than the formal 回归 (huí guī); (2) 'to belong to, be in charge of' — more common in speech than the formal 归于/归属; (3) in the pattern V1归V1, meaning 'despite V1-ing, still...' (similar to 照样 but used with repeated verbs).
to returnto go backto belong toto be in the charge of(between two identical verbs) despitenevertheless
Easily confused
- 当dānglook-alike(verb) to act as, to serve as, to be
- 鬼guǐsound-alike(noun) ghost, spirit; demon, devil
- 扫sǎolook-aliketo sweep
- 贵guìsound-alikeexpensive
- 跪guìsound-aliketo kneel
- 龟guīsound-aliketortoise, turtle
Examples
- 。Tā chūguó shí nián hòu zhōngyú guī guó le.He finally returned to his country after ten years abroad.
- 归。Zhège wèntí guī nǐ chǔlǐ.This issue is yours to handle.
- 归，。Chǎo guī chǎo, tāmen háishì hǎo péngyou.They argue, but they're still good friends.
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