What does 归 mean in Chinese?

归 (guī) means "to return; to go back to; to give back to; (of a responsibility) to be taken care of by; to belong to; to gather together; (used between two identical verbs) despite; to marry (of a woman) (old); division on the abacus with a one-digit divisor" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 6.

How do you pronounce 归?

归 is pronounced "guī" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 归?

归 is an HSK 6 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 归?

Common words with 归 include 九归 (abacus division rules (using a single-digit divisor)), 于归 ((literary) (of a girl) to marry), 划归 (to incorporate), 回归 (to return to), 三归依 (the Three Pillars of Faith (Buddha, dharma, sangha)).

How do you write 归?

You can practice writing 归 using our stroke order tool.

归 (guī), to return

归

guī

to return; to go back to; to give back to; (of a responsibility) to be taken care of by

HSK 6 New to HSKverb

Traditional: 歸

Character Breakdown

Radical: 彐 (no. 58)Traditional: 歸

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to return
to go back to
to give back to
(of a responsibility) to be taken care of by
to belong to
to gather together
(used between two identical verbs) despite
to marry (of a woman) (old)
division on the abacus with a one-digit divisor

Example Sentences

鸟儿归巢了。

Niǎor guī cháo le

The birds returned to their nests

Words Containing 归

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
九归	jiǔ guī	abacus division rules (using a single-digit divisor)
于归	yú guī	(literary) (of a girl) to marry
划归	huà guī	to incorporate
回归	huí guī	to return to	HSK 7-9
三归依	sān guī yī

Related Words

回(huí)· to circle

→

交还(jiāo huán)· to return sth

→

来回(lái huí)· to make a round trip

→

卷土重来(juǎn tǔ chóng lái)· lit. to return in a swirl of dust (idiom)

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 6
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 4 list

归: New to the HSK lists at HSK 6. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 6 exam

Studying for HSK 6? Keep 归 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 6 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.