Readings: タイ (Onyomi), しりぞ.く, ひ.く (Kunyomi)
Meaning: retreat, withdraw, retire, cede, go back
The kanji 退 is formed by combining the radical 彳 (gyōnin-ben), meaning “step with the left foot” or “to walk,” and 艮 (kon), which depicts someone looking back or turning away, indicating “stopping” or “retreating.” Together, they visually represent the idea of stepping back or moving backward.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 退 (たい) is written with 9 strokes. Begin with the left-side radical 彳 (gyōnin-ben), which is written in three strokes. Then proceed to the right-side component 艮 (kon), following the standard top-to-bottom and left-to-right principles. Ensure each stroke is drawn clearly and precisely to form the character.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 艮 (こん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- タイ (TAI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- しりぞく (shirizoku)
- ひく (hiku)
Common Words Using 退
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 引退 | いんたい | retirement |
| 退院 | たいいん | discharge from hospital |
| 退学 | たいがく | withdrawal from school |
| 退職 | たいしょく | retirement (from work) |
| 後退 | こうたい | retreat, backward movement, setback |
| 退場 | たいじょう | exit, leaving (e.g., stage, field) |
| 退化 | たいか | degeneration, regression |
| 退屈 | たいくつ | boredom |
| 減退 | げんたい | decline, decrease, weakening |
| 早退 | そうたい | leaving early (from work/school) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 退く | しりぞく | to retreat, to step back |
| 退ける | しりぞける | to repel, to drive back, to make (something) retreat |
| 退き際 | しりぞきぎわ | the moment of withdrawal/retreat |
| 退き口 | しりぞきぐち | a retreat path, escape route |
| 退き足 | しりぞきあし | retreating steps |
| 退き退き | しりぞきじり | gradually retreating |
| 退き下がる | しりぞきさがる | to fall back, to step back and down |
| 退き気味 | しりぞきぎみ | having a tendency to retreat |
| 退き道 | しりぞきみち | a retreat path |
| 退き方 | しりぞきかた | way of retreating |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は今年の春に会社を引退しました。
Kana: かれはことしのはるにかいしゃをいんたいしました。
Romaji: Kare wa kotoshi no haru ni kaisha o intai shimashita.
English: He retired from the company this spring.
Japanese: 病気が治ったので、明日退院できます。
Kana: びょうきがなおったので、あしたたいいんできます。
Romaji: Byōki ga naotta node, ashita taiin dekimasu.
English: Since my illness is cured, I can be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.
Japanese: 学費が払えず、大学を退学することになりました。
Kana: がくひがはらえず、だいがくをたいがくすることになりました。
Romaji: Gakuhi ga haraezu, daigaku o taigaku suru koto ni narimashita.
English: I couldn’t pay the tuition, so I ended up withdrawing from university.
Japanese: 長年の勤めを終え、彼は退職した。
Kana: ながねんのつとめをおえ、かれはたいしょくした。
Romaji: Naganen no tsutome o oe, kare wa taishoku shita.
English: After many years of service, he retired from his job.
Japanese: その部隊は敵の攻撃により後退を余儀なくされた。
Kana: そのぶたいはてきのこうげきによりこうたいをよぎなくされた。
Romaji: Sono butai wa teki no kōgeki ni yori kōtai o yoginaku sareta.
English: The unit was forced to retreat due to the enemy’s attack.
Japanese: 試合中に怪我をした選手は退場になった。
Kana: しあいちゅうにけがをしたせんしゅはたいじょうになった。
Romaji: Shiai chū ni kega o shita senshu wa taijō ni natta.
English: The player who got injured during the game was sent off.
Japanese: 人間は昔はしっぽがあったが、今は退化してなくなった。
Kana: にんげんはむかしはしっぽがあったが、いまはたいかしてなくなった。
Romaji: Ningen wa mukashi wa shippo ga atta ga, ima wa taika shite nakunatta.
English: Humans used to have tails, but now they have degenerated and disappeared.
Japanese: 彼の話はいつも退屈だ。
Kana: かれのはなしはいつもたいくつだ。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa itsumo taikutsu da.
English: His stories are always boring.
Japanese: 食欲が減退して、あまり食べられません。
Kana: しょくよくがげんたいして、あまりたべられません。
Romaji: Shokuyoku ga gentai shite, amari taberaremasen.
English: My appetite has decreased, so I can’t eat much.
Japanese: 昨日は体調が悪くて、会社を早退しました。
Kana: きのうはたいちょうがわるくて、かいしゃをそうたいしました。
Romaji: Kinō wa taichō ga warukute, kaisha o sōtai shimashita.
English: Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling well, so I left work early.
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