return

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 帰 means to return; its readings include kun-reading かえる and on-reading き.
• Basic usage: 帰る(かえる) means to return or go home, while 帰国(きこく) means returning to one's country.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Returning home and returning to one's country
  • 家に帰る means to go home. 旅行から帰って means after returning from a trip and leads into the action that follows the return.
  • 帰国する means to return to one's country after studying abroad or an overseas tour. Compared with 帰る, it explicitly makes the return one to a country.