What is the difference between "帰る" and "変える"?

"帰る" means "to return, to go home" (N5), whereas "変える" represents "to change; to alter; to vary (transitive verb)" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "かえる (kaeru)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

かえる (kaeru)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

かえる (kaeru)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "かえる (kaeru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

帰る (Level: N5): Translates to "to return, to go home" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used when returning to a place, especially home.
変える (Level: N4): Maps to "to change; to alter; to vary (transitive verb)" and carries the nuance of Transitive verb. Used when you intentionally make something different. Often used with object marker を..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "帰る"

毎日、家に帰ります。

I go home every day.

Bilingual Context for "変える"

予定を変える必要がある。

I need to change my plans.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "毎日、家に帰ります。" (Meaning: "I go home every day.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "帰る" is used for "to return, to go home" in the context: "I go home every day.".