Translation guide
To cause something or someone to return to a place, state, or memory. This guide covers physical return, revival of trends, memories, and more.
To return with an object to the original location or to the speaker.
Used when you physically carry something back to where you came from. Common in daily life.
お土産を持って帰った。
I brought back souvenirs.
Slightly more formal or written version of 持って帰る. Often used in business or instructions.
書類を持ち帰って確認します。
I'll bring back the documents and check them.
Used for bringing back a person or an animal.
友達を家に連れて帰った。
I brought my friend back home.
To put something back in its original place. Not necessarily carrying it from afar.
To cause someone to remember something or feel a certain way again.
Causative form of 思い出す (to remember). Used when something triggers a memory.
この曲は学生時代を思い出させる。
This song brings back my school days.
To revive or reintroduce something that was popular or common in the past.
To revive or bring back into use. Common for trends, events, or systems.
そのブランドは90年代のファッションを復活させた。
The brand brought back 90s fashion.
To cause a person to return, often after an absence.
To restore a previous state, such as health, order, or functionality.
戻す means 'return something to its original place', but it doesn't imply carrying from a distance. For physically bringing something back to where you are now, use 持って帰る or 持ち帰る.
図書館に本を戻す
Return a book to the library (not 'bring back' from a trip)
持って帰る is the everyday spoken form. 持ち帰る is a compound verb often used in written instructions or formal contexts. Both mean 'take/bring back home'.
ゴミは持ち帰りましょう。
Please take your trash back with you. (sign)
店で牛乳を買ってきてくれる？
Can you bring back some milk from the store?
Often expressed with 買ってくる (buy and come back) rather than a direct 'bring back'.
あの歌は本当にいろんな思い出をよみがえらせる。
That song brings back so many memories.
その会社は昔のロゴを復活させている。
The company is bringing back its classic logo.
Please bring the book back to the shelf.
Literally 'makes one feel nostalgia'. A natural way to say something brings back fond memories.
古い写真は懐かしさを感じさせる。
Old photos bring back nostalgia.
To evoke or summon memories, often used in literary or emotional contexts.
その香りが幼い頃の記憶を呼び起こした。
The scent brought back childhood memories.
To make something trendy again. Often used in fashion or pop culture.
あの歌手が古いヒット曲を再流行させた。
That singer brought back an old hit song.
Intransitive: 'becomes popular again'. Used when the subject is the trend itself.
ベルボトムが再び流行っている。
Bell-bottoms are coming back.
To call someone back, often from another place or situation.
会社は彼を海外から呼び戻した。
The company brought him back from overseas.
To go and bring someone back, often with a sense of retrieval.
彼女は家出した子供を連れ戻した。
She brought back her runaway child.
To regain or recover something abstract like health, trust, or composure.
彼はようやく健康を取り戻した。
He finally brought back his health.
To restore or recover, often used for health or economic conditions.
治療が彼の体力を回復させた。
The treatment brought back his strength.