"Kaeru": Returning to Where You Belong
The word kaeru is one of the first verbs you learn, alongside iku (to go) and kuru (to come). However, it is actually a difficult word to use correctly because its scope is surprisingly limited.
The two basic ways to use it are:
ie ni kaeru (Going home)
kuni ni kaeru (Returning to one's (own) country)
In essence, kaeru means "to return to a place where you belong."
If you translate "I will return to the station" as eki ni kaeru, it sounds strange. For most people, a train station is not a "place where they belong." So, what should you say in this case?
eki ni modoru. (Returning to the station.)
The common English phrase "I will be back soon" is best translated as sugu ni modoru yo. On the other hand, "I will be back home soon" can be translated as sugu ni kaeru yo. You can also use kaeru for your office or your hotel, as these can be considered places where you currently "belong."
Let's look at how to use it in the following scenarios:
1. A Spaniard living in Japan is going to Spain.
"Natsuyasumi ni Spain ni kaerimasu." (I am returning to Spain for summer vacation.)
2. After spending summer vacation in Spain, this person goes back to Japan.
"Mou sugu Nihon ni kaerimasu." (I am returning to Japan soon.) Even though they are Spanish, because they live in Japan, Japan has become a place where they belong.
3. A friend in Japan asks this person, "When did you come back to Japan?"
"Itsu Nihon ni kaette kimashita ka?" (When did you come back to Japan?)
What is the difference between kaeru and kaette kuru? If Person A (Spanish) and Person B (Japanese) are both in Japan, and Person A goes to Spain, we say Spain ni kaeru. Person A is moving away to another location. Conversely, if Person A returns from Spain to the location where Person B is, we say koko ni kaette kuru (come back here). Person A moves to another place and then returns to the current location. The kuru (to come) in ~te kuru signifies "returning to where one is now."
One Last Point
When you visit a lovely restaurant or a beautiful town, you might want to say, "I want to come back here." How do you say this in Japanese? Since a restaurant or a town you visit on a trip is not a place where you "belong," using kaeru would be odd. In this case, you should say:
Mata koko ni kitai. (I want to come here again. )
You can also use mou ichido (one more time) instead of mata (again).