Correct
还 vs 回
/ huán vs huí /
Strokes
Formula
1
还（回）礼 (send a present in return)
2
还（回）嘴 (answer back/scold back)
3
还价 (counter-bid/counter-offer)
Definition
还 and 回 both are Verbs, which means [return; go back].
Example
还 and 回, both words mean "to return to the original place". 还 is literary and 回 is colloquial.
1) In example ① 还乡 is a literary expression, while 回到家 in example ② is colloquial.
2) 还 and 回 in these two sentences are not interchangeable.
3) 还乡 is a rare collocation, but 回国, 回校, 回家, etc. are commonly used (In literary language, 还家 is said, but quite rare now).
2) 还 and 回 in these two sentences are not interchangeable.
3) 还乡 is a rare collocation, but 回国, 回校, 回家, etc. are commonly used (In literary language, 还家 is said, but quite rare now).
1
Tā
他
20
20
nián
年
méiyǒu
没有
huánxiāng
还乡
le
了
。
He has not returned his native place for 20 years.
2
Tā
她
xiàwǔ
下午
6
6
diǎn
点
xiàbān
下班
,
6
6
diǎnbàn
点半
jiù
就
kěyǐ
可以
huídào
回到
jiā
家
。
She left off work at 6 p.m,and arrived home at 6: 30p.m.
还 and 回, the two verbs also mean " to requite or repay", in this usage the two words are sometimes interchangeable, but 还 is more literary.
还（回）礼 (send a present in return)
还（回）嘴 (answer back/scold back)
还价 (counter-bid/counter-offer)
3
Tā
她
shuō
说
shénme
什么
zhè
这
háizi
孩子
dōu
都
yào
要
hái
还
(
huí
回
)
zuǐ
嘴
。
The child would answer back to all she said.
4
Wǒ
我
xiàng
向
tā
她
huīshǒu
挥手
zhìyì
致意
,
tā
她
yě
也
xiàng
向
wǒ
我
huánlǐ
还礼
。
I waved to her and she returned the salute.
还 and 回, the two words have their own usages respectively. For example, 还 means "to return sth.".
5
Wǒ
我
yào
要
qù
去
túshūguǎn
图书馆
hái
还
shū
书
。
I will go to the library to return the books.
6
Wǒ
我
qiàn
欠
nǐ
你
de
的
qián
钱
xiàyuè
下月
kěyǐ
可以
hái
还
nǐ
你
。
I will pay back your money next month.
回 means "to reply, to refuse or to turn round"; in these usages, 还 and 回 are not interchangeable.
7
Wǒ
我
yǐjīng
已经
gěi
给
tā
他
huí
回
le
了
xìn
信
。
I have replied his letter.
8
Jǐ
几
ge
个
yāoqǐng
邀请
dōu
都
bèi
被
tā
他
huí
回
le
了
。
He declined several invitations.
9
Tā
他
xiàngqián
向前
zǒu
走
le
了
jī
几
bù
步
yòu
又
huíguò
回过
tóu
头
lái
来
wàng
望
lewàng
了望
。
He stepped forward a little and turned back.