This means you do something back to someone. It is like giving something back after getting something.
Verb [stem] + 返すPrimary
This means you do something back to someone. It is like giving something back after getting something.
送られてきたメールを何度も読み返した。
I re-read the email that was sent to me many times.
失礼なことを言われても、怒ってやり返さない方が賢明だ。
Even if someone says something rude, it's wiser not to get angry and retaliate.
すみません、もう一度聞き返してもよろしいでしょうか？
Excuse me, would it be alright if I asked you to repeat that?
彼が投げ返したボールは、見事なカーブを描いた。
The ball that he threw back drew a magnificent curve.
何か言われたら、すぐに言い返してしまう癖を直したい。
I want to fix my habit of immediately talking back whenever someone says something to me.
This grammar is about doing something back. It's like a boomerang. You throw it, and it comes back to you. The action comes back to the first person.
Both "~kaesu" and "~naosu" mean "do again." "~Kaesu" is for doing something again for review. Or it is for doing something back to someone. "~Naosu" is for doing something again to fix a mistake. Or it is for making it better. You "read again" (yomikaesu) a book you like. You "rewrite" (kakinaosu) a report to fix errors.
Don't use this when the action cannot be done again. For example, you cannot say "to die back" or "to know back".
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