DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

返

Mandarin · pinyin fǎn

to return (to)

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返: fǎn · return, revert to, restore

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3 · fan3

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1character link6same-tone records

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 8 senses · 2 Cantonese readings

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

faan1 · faan2

Cantonese word readings for 返. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

character · Etymology 1

to return (to); to come or go back (to)
to return; to give back

character · Etymology 2

(Cantonese) to return (to); to come or go back (to)
(Cantonese) to go to; to attend (a place that one regularly visits); to frequent
(Cantonese) back, returning to a previous state
(Cantonese) to be left over; to be remaining
(Cantonese) Used after verbs for starting a new, good action.

character · Etymology 3

(Southern Min) alternative form of 轉 /转 (tńg, “to go back; to return”)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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