‘回访’ (huífǎng) literally combines ‘回’ (to return, go back) and ‘访’ (to visit, call on), meaning a return visit made after an initial contact—most commonly in professional or service contexts. It emphasizes purposeful, planned follow-up rather than casual repetition.

This term is widely used in healthcare (e.g., checking on patients after discharge), customer service (e.g., verifying satisfaction after a repair), education (e.g., teachers visiting students’ homes again), and social work. While it can function as a noun (e.g., ‘a follow-up visit’) or a verb (e.g., ‘to conduct a follow-up visit’), it is rarely used in informal daily conversation—it carries a formal, institutional tone. The action implies accountability, continuity of care, or quality assurance, distinguishing it from simple repetition like ‘再访’.