元(もと)に戻(もど)る

もとにもどる
expression
to return to the original state; to go back to normal
1. to return to the original state; to go back to normal; to revert
To return to a previous condition, position, or state. Used for physical things, situations, relationships, and abstract states.
体調(たいちょう)が元(もと)に戻(もど)った。
My health returned to normal.
話(はなし)を元(もと)に戻(もど)しましょう。
Let's get back to the original topic.
一度(いちど)壊(こわ)れた信頼(しんらい)は、なかなか元(もと)に戻(もど)らない。
Once trust is broken, it's hard to get things back to the way they were.

A very common and useful expression. Can describe both physical return to a state and abstract reversion. The transitive counterpart is 元(もと)に戻(もど)す (to put something back, to restore).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 体調(たいちょう)が元(もと)に戻(もど)る: to recover one's health
  • 話(はなし)を元(もと)に戻(もど)す: to get back to the topic (transitive)
  • 生活(せいかつ)が元(もと)に戻(もど)る: life returns to normal
  • 元(もと)に戻(もど)せない: cannot be undone

RELATED PAIR:

  • 元(もと)に戻(もど)る (intransitive): the state returns on its own
  • 元(もと)に戻(もど)す (transitive): someone puts it back / restores it

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

  • 回復(かいふく)する: to recover — specifically for health, economy, or performance
  • 復旧(ふっきゅう)する: to restore — used for infrastructure, systems, and services after damage
general
Added 2026.3.28 16:36
20000/20075_motonimodoru