返还 fǎnhuán restitution
restitution; return of something to its original owner; remittance
How to remember 返还: 返 to restore + 还 still = restitution.
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How it is used
- To return/give back something to its rightful owner - 返还押金 (fǎnhuán yājīn) to refund the deposit.
- Formal, often legal/financial: restitution of property, money, or rights (返还财产 return of property; 原路返还 refund by the original payment route).
- 返还 is the formal "return to owner/restitution"; 归还 (guīhuán) is returning borrowed things; 退还 (tuìhuán) is refunding. All more formal than plain 还 (huán).