Japanese symbol for “restoring”

返納

へんのう

Romaji: hennou

returning (to the authorities); restoring

In Japanese, restoring is 返納, read へんのう (hennou).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n, vs, vt returning (to the authorities); restoring

Kanji and stroke order

返

return, answer, fade

on: ヘン
kun: かえ.す、-かえ.す、かえ.る、-かえ.る

7 strokes · JLPT 2

納

settlement, obtain, reap

on: ノウ、ナッ、ナ、ナン
kun: おさ.める、-おさ.める、おさ.まる

10 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “restoring”

Word	Reading	Meaning
リターン	リターン ritaan	return; restoring

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
返事	へんじ henji	reply; answer; response
繰り返す	くりかえす kurikaesu	to repeat; to do over again
返還	へんかん henkan	return; restoration
返済	へんさい hensai	repayment; reimbursement; refund
返信	へんしん henshin	reply (e.g. email, fax, letter); answer
返す	かえす kaesu	to return (something); to restore; to put back
納得	なっとく nattoku	consent; agreement; acceptance
納税	のうぜい nouzei	payment of taxes

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.