引(ひ)き返(かえ)す

ひきかえす
verb (godan)
to turn back, to go back
1. to turn back, to go back
To return the way one came; to go back to the starting point.
道(みち)を間違(まちが)えたので引(ひ)き返(かえ)した。
I turned back because I took the wrong road.
忘(わす)れ物(もの)に気(き)づいて引(ひ)き返(かえ)した。
I turned back when I realized I forgot something.
天気(てんき)が悪(わる)くなったので山頂(さんちょう)から引(ひ)き返(かえ)した。
We turned back from the summit because the weather got bad.

引(ひ)き返(かえ)す means to turn back or return the way one came.

COMPOUND VERB:
Formed from 引(ひ)く (to pull) + 返(かえ)す (to return). The 引(ひ)き emphasizes the physical action of turning around.

TRANSITIVITY:

  • Type: 自動詞(じどうし) (intransitive)
  • No transitive pair

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 道(みち)を間違(まちが)えて引(ひ)き返(かえ)す: to turn back after taking the wrong road
  • 忘(わす)れ物(もの)を取(と)りに引(ひ)き返(かえ)す: to go back to get something forgotten
  • 途中(とちゅう)で引(ひ)き返(かえ)す: to turn back partway

CONTRAST:

  • 戻(もど)る: to return (general, to a place)
  • 引(ひ)き返(かえ)す: to turn back (emphasizes reversing direction)

Related Words

Contrast: 引(ひ)き下(さ)がる (to withdraw)
core
Added 2026.1.16 22:59 · Revised 2026.2.4 21:21
05500/05872_hikikaesu