帰宅
kitaku[kʲi̥ta̠kɯ̟]
The Japanese phrase for 'return home' is 帰宅 (kitaku).
帰宅 is a noun that refers to the act of returning to the place where one lives. It is often used in formal contexts such as news reports, business communications or when discussing specific schedules and statuses, such as a designated time of return home.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 帰, meaning 'return' or 'go back' and 宅, meaning 'house' or 'home'.
Which one should you use?
While 帰宅 is a formal noun often used in reports or polite inquiries, the verb 帰る is the standard and more common way to express 'to go home' in daily conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
帰宅する is used in formal situations or when discussing daily routines. By adding the honorific prefix ご to make ご帰宅, the phrase becomes a polite way to refer to someone else's return home. In contrast, 帰ってくる is an informal way to express returning home, often used casually among friends or family members.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 帰宅 as a verb meaning 'to return home', you must add the verb する to the noun, resulting in 帰宅する.
How do you pronounce it?
kitaku
Did you know?
- The word 宅 (taku) is used as a slang suffix in おたく (otaku) to refer to a person's house, which eventually became a label for people with obsessive hobbies who stay home.
- When returning home, Japanese people often say ただいま (tadaima), which literally means 'I have just now arrived', rather than using a word for 'returning'.
- In Japanese corporate culture, the phrase 定時帰宅 (teiji kitaku) refers to the act of leaving work exactly on time, which is sometimes viewed as unusual in high-pressure offices.
Examples in context
- 彼はすぐに帰宅します。He will soon return home.This sentence shows how to use the verb form of 帰宅.Tatoeba #113455 by bunbuku, translation #290217 by CK
- ご帰宅はいつ頃でしょうか？When will she return home?This sentence demonstrates the polite honorific form ご帰宅.Tatoeba #11457345 by bunbuku, translation #310502 by CH
- 帰宅するとネコがお出迎えしてくれる。Whenever I return home, my cat comes out to welcome me in.This sentence uses the noun 帰宅 to describe a personal routine.Tatoeba #11027911 by KK_kaku_, translation #11040308 by end
- 今日は早く帰宅します。I will return home early today.
- 今日は家に帰る。I'm going home today.
- 明日、家に帰ってくるよ。I'll come back home tomorrow.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are finishing their work at the office.
- 結衣 Yui陽太さん、もう帰宅しますか？Yōta-san, mō kitaku shimasu ka?Yota, are you going home now?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、今日は早めに帰宅します。Hai, kyō wa hayame ni kitaku shimasu.Yes, I'm returning home early today.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。お疲れ様でした。Ii desu ne. Otsukaresama deshita.That's nice. Good job today.
- 陽太 Yota結衣さんも、気をつけて帰宅してください。Yui-san mo, ki o tsukete kitaku shite kudasai.Yui, please be careful on your way home too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 帰宅, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
