Among Japanese verbs, kaeru (帰る) and modoru (戻る) are some of the most easily confused by English speakers. Both include the meanings “return” and “to go back,” but the contexts and nuances differ clearly. This article explains their distinctions for English learners of Japanese, with examples and comparisons to English.
Basic Meanings and Usage
Kaeru (帰る): Returning to One’s Home Base
Kaeru means to return to one’s own place, the place one should be, or the place where one belongs. The important point is that the destination of kaeru must be a place of belonging. For example, saying eki ni kaeru (駅に帰る) to pick up something you forgot sounds unnatural, because a station is not normally your place of belonging. Of course, if you lived in the station, it would be different.
This “place” can include not only a physical location but also abstract concepts. Let us look at some examples.
Returning to home, birthplace, or place of belonging
This is the most common usage. It refers to going back to the place where you feel most secure, the place that feels like “your own.”
家へ帰る（帰宅）
疲れたから、早く家に帰りたい。
Tsukareta kara, hayaku ie ni kaeritai.
(I’m tired, so I want to go home soon.)
国へ帰る（帰国）
来月、日本へ帰ります。
Raigetsu, Nihon e kaerimasu.
(I will return to my home country, Japan, next month.)
実家へ帰る（帰省）
お盆には、実家に帰ります。
Obon ni wa, jikka ni kaerimasu.
(I will go back to my parents’ home during Obon.)
Returning to one’s original state
Kaeru can also be used for returning to a state or condition that should exist.
平穏な日常に帰る
引っ越し後の整理も終わり、平穏な日常が帰ってきた。
Hikkoshi go no seiri mo owari, heionna nichijou ga kaette kita.
(After finishing the unpacking, a peaceful daily life returned.)
自然に帰る
都市生活を離れて自然に帰る。
Toshi seikatsu o hanarete shizen ni kaeru.
(Leaving city life behind and returning to nature.)
Fixed expressions with kaeru
お帰りなさい。
Okaerinasai.
(Welcome home.)
土に帰る
この紙袋は土に帰る素材で作られている。
Kono kamibukuro wa tsuchi ni kaeru sozai de tsukurarete iru.
(This paper bag is made of materials that return to the earth.)
These expressions reflect the nuance of kaeru as returning to one’s “home base.”
Modoru (戻る): A Temporary Return
Modoru means to return temporarily to a place or state. It indicates going back to the starting point or recovering a former condition. The nuance is “temporary return,” and it does not involve belonging or home base.
Returning to a place temporarily left
This is the biggest difference from kaeru.
職場に戻る
昼食を終えたら、会社に戻ります。
Chuushoku o oeta ra, kaisha ni modorimasu.
(I will return to the office after lunch.)
席に戻る
トイレに行ってたら、すぐに席に戻ってください。
Toire ni itteta ra, sugu ni seki ni modotte kudasai.
(Please return to your seat as soon as you come back from the restroom.)
お店に戻る
ちょっと隣のお店を見て、すぐにここに戻ってきます。
Chotto tonari no omise o mite, sugu ni koko ni modotte kimasu.
(I’ll just take a look at the shop next door and will be right back here.)
In these examples, the place is not “home” but simply the starting point. The nuance is “going back to where you were.”
Returning to a previous state or situation
Modoru is also used for recovery to a previous condition.
元に戻る
体調が元に戻ったので、仕事に復帰します。
Taichou ga moto ni modotta node, shigoto ni fukki shimasu.
(I’ve recovered, so I will return to work.)
昔に戻る
あの頃に戻って、やり直したい。
Ano koro ni modotte, yarinaoshitai.
(I want to go back to that time and do it over again.)
Clarifying the Difference
・Kaeru: returning to a home base, a place of emotional or psychological belonging.
・Modoru: returning to a temporary place or a previous state, neutral and functional.
For example, when a Japanese person returns from studying abroad, the natural phrase is 日本へ帰る。
Nihon e kaeru.
(I will return to Japan.)
When a student steps into the hallway and reenters the classroom, the natural phrase is 教室に戻る。
Kyoushitsu ni modoru.
(I will return to the classroom.)
Interestingly, there are cases where both can be used, such as 日本に戻る and 日本に帰る. Depending on context, kaeru emphasizes home base, while modoru simply means going back.
Kaisha ni modoru (会社に戻る) and Kaisha ni kaeru (会社に帰る)
・Kaisha ni modoru
This is used when returning to the office after leaving temporarily for a break or going out. It is the most natural and common expression. The nuance centers on “returning to the original place.”
・Kaisha ni kaeru
This is used when someone finishes work and views the company as a kind of “home,” similar to going home after the day is done. It emphasizes a psychological sense of “return.” Although modoru is more common, kaeru is not rare in this context.
・Cultural background
For many Japanese people, the company is not just a workplace but a central part of life. Therefore, while kaisha ni modoru is more widely used, kaisha ni kaeru also appears and reflects this cultural view of the workplace.
Final Thoughts
・Kaeru: to return to one’s home base.
・Modoru: to return to a temporary place or a previous state.
・The key distinction is whether “home” is involved.
・When describing recovery of a condition or mood, use modoru.
・For English speakers, it is helpful to remember: kaeru = “go home,” modoru = “go back / come back.”
By understanding these differences and applying them, learners can make their Japanese much more natural in everyday conversation.