What are Kaeru (かえる）and Iku (いく）in English?

What do they each mean?

帰る(かえる)-Kaeru is a unique verb that exists in Japanese.

Google translate says it means “go home”.

This verb is only used when you are going to “your true home”.

If you are going to someone’s home, then you will use the term “iku-いく”, which means “go” in English.

I would use this いく to go pretty much anywhere but home .

3 ways for myself to use “kaeru”

1. 家(いえ)にかえる go back to my house. ie ni Kaeru.

2. うちにかえる go home. Uchi ni Kaeru

3. 日本(にほん)にかえる going back to Japan. Nihon ni Kaeru.

いえ（ie) =house/home

うち(uchi)=my home

にほん(nihon)=Japan

I can say that since my real home is Japan even though I currently live in the states.

So for me, I would use Kaeru to go my residential house in states as well as my home country Japan.

Where is “your place” for かえる?

Email me or comments below for any questions! Please hit “like” button below if this was helpful!