折返

zhéfǎn

verb #29,349

Meanings

1 to turn back
2 to double back
3 to retrace one's steps

Characters

to fold; to turn; to bend back

to return; to go back

Examples

HSK 4

由于道路封闭，我们不得不折返。

Yóuyú dàolù fēngbì, wǒmen bùdébù zhéfǎn.

Due to the road closure, we had no choice but to turn back.

HSK 6

飞机因故障折返原机场。

Fēijī yīn gùzhàng zhéfǎn yuán jīchǎng.

The plane turned back to the original airport due to a malfunction.

Tips

usage

折返 is common in sports and navigation contexts. In a 折返跑 (shuttle run), athletes run to a point and run back. Compare with 返回 (to return), which is more general and doesn't specifically imply reversing direction.

Stroke Order

折 zhé

返 fǎn