回
Hui ethnic group (Chinese Muslims); to go back; to return; to turn back; to turn around; to reply; to answer; to curve; to return; to revolve
Closest English meanings
return·turn·answer
The Calligrapher — Yán Zhēnqīng 颜真卿
Tang master of robust regular script; co-creator of the enduring 'Yan style'.
Tang calligrapher (709–784), master of regular script/running script — the Tang moral paragon whose upright, muscular regular script became the model of Chinese integrity in writing. Tang dynasty
Cultural Story
In the Book of Han, envoys 回 from the Western Regions bearing grape vines and tales of Ferghana horses. The Tang poet Li Bai wrote of 回头 seeing the moon and thinking of home. The character doubles as a door swinging shut and open again — motion that always implies a place left and a place to 回.
Common words & phrases
- 回答 answer · reply
- 回家 go home · return home
- 回忆 recollection · memory
- 回头 turn around · look back
- 回到 return to
- 回复 reply · restore
Read the story behind the character
A teenager 回答 the teacher's question without looking up from the phone. The navigation app says 回 home in twelve minutes. Grandmother 回忆 the old courtyard while scrolling photos. The group chat pings 回复 within seconds — a small loop of words closing and opening all evening.
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