返却 and 返品: returning borrowed items and returning merchandise
Compare returning a library book with returning a purchase, identifying the item's relationship and the recipient.
Returning borrowed or entrusted items
返却, read へんきゃく, means returning something borrowed or entrusted. 借りた本を図書館に返却しました。 says that borrowed books were returned to the library.
仕事が終わったら、鍵を管理人に返却してください。 asks someone to return the key to the caretaker when the work is finished. 返却 applies to entrusted keys as well as borrowed books.
Returning merchandise to a seller
返品, read へんぴん, means returning merchandise to the seller. 届いた商品に傷があったので、返品を申し出ました。 says that a return was requested because the delivered item was scratched.
返品を申し出ました reports making a request. It does not by itself establish that the goods were sent back or that the seller processed the return.
The item's relationship changes the expression
借りたカメラを返却しました。 says that a borrowed camera was returned. 購入したカメラを返品しました。 says that a purchased camera was returned to the seller.
The same type of item can be borrowed or purchased. Identify the recipient too, using expressions such as 図書館, 管理人, or 販売店 in the sentence.
Which fits returning a book borrowed from a library: 返却 or 返品?
Show the answer and why
返却 fits. This is the return of a borrowed library book, unlike 返品, which returns merchandise to a seller.