返校 literally means 'return to school' — 返 (fǎn) means 'to return' or 'to go back', and 校 (xiào) is a short form of 学校 (xuéxiào), meaning 'school'. Together, 返校 functions as a verb describing the action of going back to school after a break, such as summer vacation, winter holidays, or a temporary absence due to illness. It’s commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in educational contexts and official notices.

This term carries a sense of formality or routine — it’s more typical in announcements, news reports, or parental conversations than in casual daily speech among students (who might say 回学校 instead). It often implies an organized, scheduled return, such as the start of a new semester or resumption of classes after suspension. While not limited to students, it most frequently refers to students returning to campus, though teachers and staff may also 返校 for preparations before term begins.