Translation guide
Expresses the idea of going somewhere and coming back, a round trip, or the back-and-forth journey itself.
The basic concept of traveling to a place and then returning to the starting point.
The most common and neutral word for a round trip, used for tickets, travel time, etc.
東京までの往復切符をください。
A round-trip ticket to Tokyo, please.
往復で2時間かかります。
It takes two hours round trip.
A more colloquial, verb-based way to say 'go and come back'. Emphasizes the action.
ちょっとコンビニに行って帰ってくるね。
I'll just go to the convenience store and come back.
Literally 'going and returning', similar to 往復 but less common in modern speech. Often used in set phrases.
往き帰りの電車の中で本を読んだ。
I read a book on the train going and coming back.
Referring to the act of traveling to and from a place, often with a focus on the process or duration.
Commonly used to talk about the commute or the journey to and from a place.
行き帰りの通勤ラッシュは大変だ。
The commute to and from work during rush hour is tough.
行き帰りに桜を見ることができる。
You can see cherry blossoms on the way there and back.
Literally 'round-trip journey', used when emphasizing the distance or route.
往復の道のりは10キロほどです。
The round-trip journey is about 10 kilometers.
Describing the two distinct actions of going and coming back, often in sequence.
Simple conjunction of 'go' and 'return', used when the actions are seen as separate steps.
銀行に行って、すぐ帰ります。
I'll go to the bank and come right back.
Means 'going back and forth' repeatedly, not just one round trip.
彼は部屋の中を行ったり来たりしていた。
He was pacing back and forth in the room.
往復 is more formal and often used for tickets, schedules, and fixed routes. 行き帰り is more conversational and focuses on the experience of the journey itself.
English 'going and returning' can often be expressed more naturally with a single word like 往復 or a verb phrase. Directly translating each word may sound awkward.