Today’s Grammar Point: ～かえす

～をかえす is a transitive verb meaning “to return,” “to put back,” or “to reverse” but かえす can be used with a verb stem and add the meaning of “in return,” “back,” “again,” or “over.”

Connection

• [verb stem] + かえす

Examples

1. やり返かえす = to do (it) back, to retaliate
   • 計算けいさんをやり返かえした。
     I recalculated it.
   • やられたらやり返かえしなさい。
     If someone hurts you, hurt him back. (Give tit for tat.)
2. 言いい返かえす = to talk back, to say back
   • 目上めうえの人ひとに言いい返かえすものではない。
     Do not talk back to your elders.
   • ジョンさんは同おなじことを何度なんども言いい返かえしていた。
     John was repeating the same thing over and over.
3. 打うち返かえす = to hit back
   • ジョンさんのサーブを打うち返かえせるものはいなかった。
     Nobody was able to return John’s serve.
4. 微笑ほほえみ返かえす = to smile back (at the person)
   • エイミーさんに微笑ほほえんだら、微笑ほほえみ返かえしてくれた。
     I smiled at Amy and she smiled back.
5. 殴なぐり返かえす = to punch back, to give a blow in return
   • 殴なぐられたら殴なぐり返かえせ.
     Hit back if you are hit. (If somebody hits you, you hit back.)
6. 読よみ返かえす = to read (it) again
   • この本は何度なんども読よみ返かえす価値かちがあります。
     This book is worth reading over and over again.

Answer to Today’s question: a. よみ

かえす is used after a verb stem. “I read my father’s letter over and over again.”