1.
way home, way back, return path
The route taken when returning home or going back to where one came from. Also used to describe the journey itself.
帰り道にコンビニに寄った。
I stopped at a convenience store on the way home.
帰り道で雨に降られた。
I got caught in the rain on the way home.
学校からの帰り道に、友達と夕焼けを見ながら歩いたのがいい思い出だ。
Walking home from school while watching the sunset with friends is a fond memory.
USAGE:
The opposite is 行きの道 or 行く道 (the way there). Often used with the particle に to mean "on the way home": 帰り道に. Can also be used figuratively to mean there is no turning back: 帰り道はない.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 帰り道に: on the way home
- 帰り道で: on the way back
- 帰り道を急ぐ: to hurry on the way home
- 帰り道に迷う: to get lost on the way back