Meet 退 in physical movement and in leaving a role. Learn each reading with its word.

The idea

退 has 9 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. 退く is しりぞく; compounds such as 退職, 早退 and 引退 use たい.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingMeaning in context
退くしりぞくBecause it was dangerous, I stepped back one pace.
退職たいしょくMy father retired from his company at sixty.
早退そうたいI left class early.
引退いんたいAfter the match, the athlete announced their retirement.

Examples

  • 危あぶないので、一歩いっぽ後うしろに退しりぞきました。Because it was dangerous, I stepped back one pace.
  • 父ちちは六十歳ろくじゅっさいで会社かいしゃを退職たいしょくしました。My father retired from his company at sixty.
  • 彼かれは病気びょうきのため、チームを退しりぞきました。He stepped down from the team because of illness.
  • 授業じゅぎょうの途中とちゅうで早退そうたいしました。I left class early.
  • 選手せんしゅは試合しあいの後あと、引退いんたいを発表はっぴょうしました。After the match, the athlete announced their retirement.
  • 部屋へやに入はいる前まえに、退室たいしつする人ひとを待まちました。Before entering the room, I waited for the people leaving it.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

退職 means leaving a job and does not necessarily mean retirement; 引退 means retiring from an activity or career. Compare 退 with 進, which means advance.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 退く in hiragana.

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    しりぞく

    退く is しりぞく: in the example, someone steps back from danger.

  2. Write the reading of 退職 in hiragana.

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    たいしょく

    退職 is たいしょく: the example describes a father leaving his company at sixty.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 引＿（いんたい）［退／進］.

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    退

    退 completes 引退（いんたい）, retirement from an activity or career; 進 means advance.

Use it today

Write 退 following the diagram, then cover the readings and make a sentence with 退職.