返(かえ)り点(てん)

かえりてん
noun
kaeriten (kanbun reading-order marks)
languageeducation
1. kaeriten; marks showing reading order in kanbun
Small marks, such as the "re" mark and the numbered "one, two" marks, written beside classical Chinese text so that it can be read in Japanese word order.
返(かえ)り点(てん)を付(つ)ける。
To add reading-order marks.
授業(じゅぎょう)で返(かえ)り点(てん)の読(よ)み方(かた)を習(なら)った。
In class we learned how to read the reading-order marks.
漢文(かんぶん)は返(かえ)り点(てん)に従(したが)って、下(した)の字(じ)から上(うえ)の字(じ)に戻(もど)って読(よ)む。
Kanbun is read by following the marks, going back from a lower character to a higher one.

Usage

Taught in high-school classical Japanese (古典(こてん)) classes. Together with 送(おく)り仮名(がな), the marks turn a Chinese text into Japanese.

Related words

Related Words

Related: 漢文(かんぶん) (classical Chinese texts)
Related: 訓読(くんどく) (reading Chinese text as Japanese)
general
Added 2026.10.4 22:44 · Revised 2026.10.4 22:46
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