teoi3 waan4退還退还
Jyutpingteoi3 waan4
Yaleteui wàahn
Definition
To return something received, especially when a business refunds money to a customer.
neutralshoppingmoney
How it's used
退還 carries a slightly more formal or administrative tone compared to the common spoken verb 還. It is frequently used in contexts involving official policies, such as returning merchandise to a store or reclaiming a deposit. While you might use 還 for returning a borrowed book to a friend, 退還 is the standard choice for professional or commercial transactions.
Examples
You bought the wrong thing, remember to take it back for a refund.
Is the shop willing to return the money to you?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 退還 with 歸還. While both mean to return something, 歸還 is typically used for returning borrowed items like library books or equipment, whereas 退還 implies a reversal of a transaction, such as getting a refund or returning a purchased item.
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.
