还 (huán) — to return, to give back (something borrowed)
Definition
还 (huán) means 'to return, give back' something borrowed — the everyday single-character verb for this. 归还 is a more formal written equivalent; 回馈 means 'to repay a favor' or 'give feedback', not a physical return.
verb
to returnto give back (something borrowed)
Examples
- 还。Wǒ míng tiān huán nǐ shū.I'll return the book to you tomorrow.
- 还。Tā yǐ jīng huán le qián.He has already returned the money.
- 。Qǐng huán gěi wǒ yào shi.Please give the keys back to me.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
Grammar
Appears in
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