归还 (guī huán) is a transitive verb meaning 'to return (an object)' — specifically, to give something back to its original owner or rightful place. The character 归 (guī) means 'to return' or 'to go back', often implying a sense of restoration or coming home; 还 (huán) means 'to return' or 'to give back'. Together, they emphasize the act of restoring possession, typically after borrowing, lending, or temporary use. It’s more formal and precise than the simpler 还 (huán) alone, and is commonly used in written Chinese, official notices, library contexts, or polite speech.

This word carries a connotation of responsibility and correctness — it implies that returning the item is expected, appropriate, or even obligatory. You’ll see it in phrases like '请按时归还图书' (Please return books on time) or '失物招领处可归还遗失物品' (Lost-and-found offices can return lost items). It does not apply to abstract concepts like time or feelings — only tangible, borrowable objects with identifiable owners.