帰る vs 返る — same おんよみ-adjacent reading, totally different kanji meaning?

Question

帰る (to return home) and 返る (to be returned/revert) look almost like they should be related but I want to confirm they're genuinely separate verbs and not just alternate spellings of the same thing.

Accepted Answer

They're genuinely separate verbs, not alternate spellings — 帰る is specifically about a PERSON going back to where they belong (home, homeland, one's place), while 返る is about an OBJECT or state reverting/being given back (お金が返ってきた = the money came back / was returned). Different subjects, different kanji for a reason. The counterpart of 返る you'll see paired a lot is the transitive 返す (to give back).