物归原主
wù guī yuán zhǔ
to return something to its rightful owner
Character by character
物wù
thing
thing
归guī
return
return
原yuán
original
original
主zhǔ
owner
owner
Example
他在出租车上捡到一个钱包，第二天就通过电台让它物归原主了。
He found a wallet in a taxi, and the next day, through a radio appeal, he got it back to its owner.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Used of lost property, and in the news of cultural relics returned to China (流失文物物归原主). Often in the frame 让…物归原主 or 终于物归原主. Applying it to animals going home, as here, is a little playful.
Learn this in Lesson 166 · HSK 7–9: 麋鹿回家 (The Père David’s deer comes home)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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