KANJI: KI kae (return)

ASCII Art Representation:

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Character Etymology:

This character is a depiciton of ancient Chinese custom. The radical at right is a pictograph of a hand holding a broom and by extension meant housewife. The radical at left is a heavy simplification of a complex character that meant to follow. Thus the character meant wife following].

This came from the custom of the groom spending some time at his new bride's home before returning to his own house with his wife following. Hence, to return.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: KI
kun-yomi: kae(ru) kae(su) oku(ru) totsu(gu)

English Definitions:

1. kae(ru): return; take leave; come again; come around (time).
2. kae(su): send (someone) back.
3. ki(suru): come to, arrive at, result in, end in, lead to; belong to, ascribe to; put down to; impute; be due to; fall in (one's power); (his blood) be upon (him).
4. kae(ri): return; return trip.
5. kae(rigake) ni, kae(rishana) ni, kae(rusa) ni: on returning.
6. (o)kae(ri)nasai: welcome home, welcome back.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 1564
Henshall: 96

Unicode Encoded Version:

帰

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

帰心 (kishin): longing for one's home, being homesick.
帰化 (kika): naturalization.
帰省 (kisei): homecoming.

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