Translation guide
The English phrase "put back" has several distinct meanings, from returning something to its original place, to postponing an event, to drinking quickly. This guide covers the most common uses for English-speaking learners of Japanese.
To place an object back where it was before, or to return it to a container, shelf, etc.
General verb for putting something back to its original location or state. Transitive.
本を棚に戻してください。
Please put the book back on the shelf.
使ったら元の場所に戻してね。
Put it back where it was after you use it.
Emphasizes returning to the original state or position. Often used for settings, arrangements, or abstract things.
設定を元に戻してください。
Please put the settings back to default.
To put things away, tidy up. Implies putting items back in their proper storage place.
おもちゃを片付けなさい。
Put your toys back (away).
To delay or reschedule something to a later time.
Formal term for postponing an event, meeting, or deadline.
会議は来週に延期されました。
The meeting has been put back to next week.
To delay something, often used for schedules or plans. Less formal than 延期する.
出発を1時間遅らせましょう。
Let's put back our departure by an hour.
To put off, postpone, especially for decisions or problems. Slightly negative nuance of procrastination.
その問題は先送りにされた。
The issue was put back (put off).
To consume a drink rapidly, often alcohol.
To drink in one go, chug. Common casual phrase.
彼はビールを一気に飲んだ。
He put back his beer in one gulp.
Slang for drinking quickly or chugging, often used among friends.
ジョッキをあおった。
He put back his mug of beer.
To hang up the phone or return the handset to its cradle.
Literally 'put down the receiver'. Used for landline phones.
彼は怒って受話器を置いた。
He angrily put back the receiver.
General verb for hanging up a phone call. More common than the physical action.
電話を切らないでください。
Don't put the phone back (hang up).
To adjust a clock to an earlier time, or to move time backwards.
To set a clock back. Use 戻す for the action of turning hands or changing digital display.
夏時間が終わったら時計を1時間戻してください。
Put the clock back one hour when daylight saving ends.
English uses 'put back' for many abstract actions (put back a meeting, put back a decision). Japanese often uses specific verbs like 延期する or 遅らせる. Directly translating 'put back' as 戻す in these contexts will sound unnatural.
会議を戻す
put back a meeting (incorrect)
戻す (modosu) means to put something back to its original place or state. 返す (kaesu) means to return something to its owner. Use 戻す for location/state, 返す for ownership.