‘回去’ (huí qù) is a compound verb meaning 'to go back' or 'to return' to a previously mentioned or understood place—most commonly home, but also to a prior location like an office, school, or city. The character 回 (huí) means 'to return' or 'to circle back', while 去 (qù) means 'to go'. Together, they form a directional verb phrase indicating movement toward a prior location, not just any destination. It is frequently used in daily conversation to describe leaving the current place and returning to a familiar one.

This verb is often used with time words (e.g., 现在、明天), subject pronouns (e.g., 我、他), or as a response to invitations or plans. Unlike standalone verbs such as 走 (zǒu, 'to leave') or 离开 (líkāi, 'to depart'), 回去 specifically emphasizes the idea of returning—not just departure, but return to a point of origin. It’s neutral in register and appropriate in both casual and formal speech, though it rarely appears in highly literary or abstract contexts.