Modoru is the Japanese verb for ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’, explained

What does “modoru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “modoru” to mean ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “modoru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “modoru”
  • Example #1: how to say “return” in Japanese
• Modoranai: the nai form of “modoru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t go back” in Japanese
• Modorou: the volitional form of “modoru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s go back” in Japanese
• Modorimasu: the masu form of “modoru”
  • Example #4: how to say “return” politely in Japanese
• Modotta: the ta form of “modoru”
  • Example #5: how to say “returned” in Japanese
• Modotte: the te form of “modoru”
  • Example #6: how to say “go and then” in Japanese
• Modoreba: the ba form of “modoru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if go back” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “modoru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “modoru”.

• modoru – 戻る (もどる) : a verb meaning ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this verb mainly in two different situations: when someone or something goes back to the previous position; when someone or something goes back to the previous state. So, this verb is often translated into English as ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “return” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku tachi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• mainichi – 毎日 (まいにち) : an adverb meaning ‘every day’ in Japanese.
• shokuba – 職場 (しょくば) : a noun meaning ‘office’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “shokuba” to say where the speakers go back every day.

This is a typical usage of “modoru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “ni”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to return’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “modoru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “modoranai”.

Modoranai: the nai form of “modoru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “modoranai”.

• modoranai – 戻らない (もどらない) : the nai form of “modoru”, which means ‘not to go back’ or ‘not to return’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “modoranai” consists of the following two parts:

• modora – 戻ら (もどら) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modoranai” is literally the nai form of “modoru” and means ‘not to go back’ or ‘not to return’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t go back” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• kako – 過去 (かこ) : a noun meaning ‘the past’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “modoranai”. When we want to mean ‘not to go back’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Modorou: the volitional form of “modoru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “modorou”.

• modorou – 戻ろう (もどろう) : the volitional form of “modoru”, which expresses volition to go back or return.

Grammatically, “modorou” consists of the following two parts:

• modoro – 戻ろ (もどろ) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modorou” is literally the volitional form of “modoru” and expresses volition to go back or return. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s go back” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi tachi” to make its possessive case, “watashi tachi no”, which means ‘our’ in Japanese.
• ie – 家 (いえ) : a noun meaning ‘home’ or ‘house’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “modorou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s go back” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Modorimasu: the masu form of “modoru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “modorimasu”.

• modorimasu – 戻ります (もどります) : the masu form of “modoru”, which means ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “modorimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• modori – 戻り (もどり) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modorimasu” is literally the masu form of “modoru” and means ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “return” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• seito – 生徒 (せいと) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• gakkou – 学校 (がっこう) : a noun meaning ‘school’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “modorimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “go back” or “return” politely in Japanese, this masu form is a good option.

Modotta: the ta form of “modoru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “modotta”.

• modotta – 戻った (もどった) : the ta form of “modoru”, which means ‘went back’ or ‘returned’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “modotta” consists of the following two parts:

• modot – 戻っ (もどっ) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modotta” is literally the ta form of “modoru” and means ‘went back’ or ‘returned’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “returned” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• nichijou – 日常 (にちじょう) : a noun meaning ‘everyday life’, ‘daily life’, or ‘normal life’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “modotta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “modoru”, this ta form is the best option.

Modotte: the te form of “modoru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “modotte”.

• modotte – 戻って (もどって) : the te form of “modoru”, which means ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “modotte” consists of the following two parts:

• modot – 戻っ (もどっ) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modotte” is literally the te form of “modoru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make a chronological order in a sentence. So, “modotte” is very useful when we want to implement the order into a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to go back’ or ‘to rerutn’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “go and then” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
• dekakeru – 出掛ける (でかける) : a verb meaning ‘to go out’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “modotte”. When we want to make a chronological order in a sentence like this, its te form is very useful.

Modoreba: the ba form of “modoru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “modoreba”.

• modoreba – 戻れば (もどれば) : the ba form of “modoru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “modoreba” consists of the following two parts:

• modore – 戻れ (もどれ) : one conjugation of “modoru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “modoreba” is literally the ba form of “modoru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “modoreba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if go back” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kuni – 国 (くに) : a noun meaning ‘country’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• korosa – 殺さ (ころさ) : one conjugation of the verb, “korosu“, which means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• reru – れる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its passive form. In the example, this is used after “korosa” to make its passive form, “korosa reru”, which means ‘to be killed’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “modoreba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kuni ni modoreba”, which means ‘if we go back to our country’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “modoru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• modoru – 戻る (もどる) : a verb meaning ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese.
• modoranai – 戻らない (もどらない) : the nai form of “modoru”, which means ‘not to go back’ or ‘not to return’ in Japanese.
• modorou – 戻ろう (もどろう) : the volitional form of “modoru”, which expresses volition to go back or return.
• modorimasu – 戻ります (もどります) : the masu form of “modoru”, which means ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ politely in Japanese.
• modotta – 戻った (もどった) : the ta form of “modoru”, which means ‘went back’ or ‘returned’ in Japanese.
• modotte – 戻って (もどって) : the te form of “modoru”, which means ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese. When we want to make a chronological order in a sentence, this te form is very useful.
• modoreba – 戻れば (もどれば) : the ba form of “modoru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to go back’ or ‘to return’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.