How to Say "Give It Back" in Japanese

返して

kaeshite

To say "give it back" in Japanese, use 返して (kaeshite).

The phrase is used as a request for someone to return an item that they have taken or borrowed.

Which one should you use?

You can also use 返してください or 戻してください for a more polite tone or 返せ for a very direct and informal command.

You can make this request polite by adding ください to the te-form, resulting in 返してください.

kaeshite

The verb root in 返して is related to the word 返事 (henji), which means 'a reply' or 'an answer'.
Japanese parents often use the specific command 返しなさい instead of 返して when telling their children to give something back.
While 返して is for returning a borrowed object, the word 戻して is used specifically when an item has been moved from its original place and needs to be put back.

それ、私の携帯よ。返して！
That's my cellphone. Give it back!
This sentence shows how to use 返して when someone has taken your cellphone.
Tatoeba #11047979 by small_snow, translation #10189024 by DJ_Saidez
これは、私の赤ペンよ。返してよ。
This is my red pen. Give it back.
This sentence uses 返して to ask for a red pen back.
Tatoeba #11029696 by small_snow, translation #11827769 by nana2capriccio
その本読んだら、私に返してくださいね。
When you've finished reading that book, please give it back to me.
This sentence demonstrates a polite request to return a book using 返して.
Tatoeba #10875606 by bunbuku, translation #3059388 by CK
彼に本を返してください。
Please give the book back to him.
あのCDを返せ！
Give that CD back!
このペンを戻せよ。
Give this pen back.
4 more sentences on Tatoeba

In a classroom, a girl is asking a boy to return her eraser.

陽葵 Himari

あ、消しゴム！返して！
A, keshigomu! Kaeshite!
Ah, my eraser! Give it back!
大翔 Hiroto

ごめん、すぐ返すよ。
Gomen, sugu kaesu yo.
Sorry, I'll give it back right away.
陽葵 Himari

勝手に使わないで。
Katte ni tsukawanai de.
Don't use it without asking.
大翔 Hiroto

わかった。次は聞くね。
Wakatta. Tsugi wa kiku ne.
Understood. I'll ask next time.

Sources

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