Translation guide
In Japanese, 'round trip' is most commonly expressed with 往復 (おうふく), which functions as both a noun and a suru-verb. It is widely used for tickets, travel, and commuting. For casual or everyday contexts, especially when emphasizing 'going and coming back', the phrase 行って帰ってくる is natural. There are also set phrases for specific situations like same-day returns.
Express a journey to a destination and back, especially for transportation, tickets, or regular commuting.
The standard noun for 'round trip'. Often used with する to mean 'make a round trip'. Very common in transportation contexts (tickets, fares, travel time).
東京までの往復切符をください。
A round-trip ticket to Tokyo, please.
通勤は毎日往復で2時間かかります。
My commute takes two hours round trip every day.
A natural, everyday phrase meaning 'go and come back'. Used when the focus is on the action of going and returning, rather than a formal ticket or schedule.
ちょっとコンビニに行って帰ってくるね。
I'm just going to run to the convenience store and come back.
The verb form of 往復, meaning 'to make a round trip'. Slightly more formal than 行って帰ってくる.
週末に大阪を往復する予定です。
I plan to make a round trip to Osaka over the weekend.
Specifically refer to a ticket for going and returning, as opposed to a one-way ticket.
The standard term for a round-trip ticket. 切符 can be replaced with チケット in casual contexts.
往復切符のほうが片道よりお得です。
A round-trip ticket is a better deal than a one-way ticket.
A more casual version using the loanword チケット. Common in spoken Japanese or for events.
往復チケットをネットで予約した。
I booked a round-trip ticket online.
Emphasize that the return happens on the same day as the departure.
Literally 'day return', this noun means a trip where you go and come back on the same day. Often used with 旅行 or 出張.
日帰り温泉旅行に行ってきた。
I went on a day-trip to a hot spring.
The verb form, meaning 'to do a day trip'.
来週、京都に日帰りするつもりです。
I plan to make a day trip to Kyoto next week.
Describe an exchange of correspondence where a reply is received.
Also used for exchanges of letters or emails. Often in compounds like 往復書簡 (exchange of letters) or 往復メール.
彼とは何度かメールの往復をした。
I exchanged several emails with him.
A more general term for 'exchange' (messages, items, words). Not limited to round trips, but very common for back-and-forth communication.
往復 is a noun and sounds more formal or technical. It's perfect for tickets, schedules, and official contexts. 行って帰ってくる is a casual verb phrase used in everyday speech when you're just talking about going somewhere and coming back.
往復でいくらですか？
How much is a round trip?
ちょっと郵便局に行って帰ってくる。
I'll just go to the post office and come back.
丸い旅 (まるいたび) means 'round/circular journey' and is not used for a standard round trip. Stick to 往復 or 行って帰ってくる.
これは往復切符ですか？
Is this a round-trip ticket?
昨日、大阪を往復しました。
I made a round trip to Osaka yesterday.
The problem was resolved through an exchange of emails.