faan1返
Jyutpingfaan1
Yalefāan
Definition
To return or go back; to head to a place one regularly visits, such as school or work.
- to return; to go back to a place one has left
- to go to a place one regularly visits, such as school or the office
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of returning to a place, this verb is the standard way to express going to one's regular place of duty or study. It is used in fixed phrases like 返工 for work and 返學 for school, which function as verb-object compounds. When indicating movement towards the speaker, it is often paired with 嚟 to form 返嚟.
Examples
When are you going home?
I have to go to work tomorrow, so I can't sleep too late.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 翻, which is a common character substitution error in written Cantonese. While 翻 is sometimes used in informal typing, 返 is the correct character for the sense of returning or going to a routine location.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
