回顾 (huí gù) is a verb meaning 'to review' or 'to look back (on something past)'. It combines 回 (huí), which means 'back' or 'to return', and 顾 (gù), which means 'to look' or 'to attend to'. Together, they convey the idea of turning one’s attention backward in time — whether to reflect on personal experiences, re-examine information, or revisit past events or material. The word carries a thoughtful, often deliberate connotation, implying purposeful reflection rather than casual remembering.

It is commonly used in academic, professional, and personal contexts: students 回顾 notes before exams; teachers 回顾 lessons to improve instruction; people 回顾 their childhood or a year’s achievements during New Year. While it can appear in formal writing and speeches, it also occurs naturally in conversation when discussing growth, learning, or life changes. Unlike simpler verbs like 想起 (to recall), 回顾 suggests depth, structure, and intentionality in the act of remembering.