<p>As a verb particle, the Mandarin equivalent of 返 in Cantonese is indeed 回</p>

<p>俾<strong>返</strong>你一啲好處(C) = 給<strong>回</strong>你一點好處 (M) = give you <strong>back</strong> some benefit </p>

<p>Edit:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>First, the term 還返 is uniquely Cantonese, "我要還返本書俾佢" in Mandarin would just be "我要还本书给他". </p></li>
<li><p>Second, 本 is a classifier without determiner or count word, it  is normal in Cantonese, but in Mandarin, you should not omit the determiner or count word; you should write "我要还(這)本书给他" or "我要还(一)本书给他" </p></li>
<li><p>Finally, you can omit the classifier along with the determiner and write "我要還書俾佢" / "我要还书给他</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-11T02:35:29.803Z
Thanks for your response. Just wondering though, is 回 used after the verb? Like for my first example, is "我要还回本书给他" correct or should it be "我要回还本书给他”?
Sneakymist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-11T10:33:14.613Z
In this case, the 回 would not be needed, as idiomatic Mandarin requires just 还. The Cantonese verb 還返 just becomes the one verb 還/还 in Mandarin.
Michaelyus
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-11T01:59:33.550Z
2016-10-11T03:19:44.273Z
2016-10-11T03:19:44.273Z
Tang Ho
<p>In Cantonese, one of the ways 返 is used is to express "return" or "back". What word in Mandarin is the best equivalent to it? Would it be 回?</p>

<p>Here are the examples - not sure if the translation is correct. </p>

<p>Ex. 我要還返本書俾佢 -> 我要还回本书给他 (I need to return a book to him)</p>

<p>Ex. 走之前記住攞返鎖匙 -> 走之前记住拿回钥匙 (before you leave, remember to get your keys)</p>

<p>Thanks for any help. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-11T01:29:55.527Z
Perhaps it's also better to provide English versions for the examples? Just so that a non-Cantonese speaker can also answer the question.
Wang Dingwei
<translation><equivalent-phrase>
Mandarin equivalent of 返 in Cantonese? Is it 回?
# Mandarin equivalent of 返 in Cantonese? Is it 回?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-11)

In Cantonese, one of the ways 返 is used is to express "return" or "back". What word in Mandarin is the best equivalent to it? Would it be 回?

Here are the examples - not sure if the translation is correct.

Ex. 我要還返本書俾佢 -> 我要还回本书给他 (I need to return a book to him)

Ex. 走之前記住攞返鎖匙 -> 走之前记住拿回钥匙 (before you leave, remember to get your keys)

Thanks for any help.

**Tags:** translation, equivalent-phrase

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps it's also better to provide English versions for the examples? Just so that a non-Cantonese speaker can also answer the question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-11. Score: 4

As a verb particle, the Mandarin equivalent of 返 in Cantonese is indeed 回

俾**返**你一啲好處(C) = 給**回**你一點好處 (M) = give you **back** some benefit

Edit:

* First, the term 還返 is uniquely Cantonese, "我要還返本書俾佢" in Mandarin would just be "我要还本书给他".
* Second, 本 is a classifier without determiner or count word, it is normal in Cantonese, but in Mandarin, you should not omit the determiner or count word; you should write "我要还(這)本书给他" or "我要还(一)本书给他"
* Finally, you can omit the classifier along with the determiner and write "我要還書俾佢" / "我要还书给他

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for your response. Just wondering though, is 回 used after the verb? Like for my first example, is "我要还回本书给他" correct or should it be "我要回还本书给他”?  
> **username_3**: In this case, the 回 would not be needed, as idiomatic Mandarin requires just 还. The Cantonese verb 還返 just becomes the one verb 還/还 in Mandarin.  

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