Translation guide
How to express 'back down' in Japanese: withdrawing from a stance, argument, or confrontation.
To stop insisting on your position or demands, often to avoid conflict.
To retract a statement, accusation, or demand, often under pressure.
引き下がる emphasizes the act of stepping back from a confrontation, while 折れる focuses on giving in or compromising. Use 引き下がる when someone refuses to retreat, and 折れる when someone finally agrees to the other's terms.
He absolutely won't back down.
Literally 'pull back', this is the most direct and common way to say 'back down' in an argument or confrontation.
He didn't back down until the very end.
Even when she was about to lose the argument, she didn't back down.
Literally 'to bend/break', this means to give in or compromise, often used when someone finally backs down after being stubborn.
After negotiations, the other party backed down.
He wouldn't back down easily.
Means 'to retreat' or 'step back', used in physical or metaphorical confrontations. Slightly formal.
He didn't back down an inch.
Casual way to say 'back off' or 'withdraw'. Often used in spoken Japanese.
I can't back down now.
Literally 'to sheathe one's spear', a literary expression meaning to cease hostilities or back down from a fight.
Neither side showed any sign of backing down.
He had no choice but to back down from his statement.
Formal term for withdrawing a proposal, complaint, or legal claim.
I decided to back down from the lawsuit.
Formal word for retracting or withdrawing a statement, decision, or demand.
The government backed down on that policy.
In the end, he backed down.
Do not translate 'back down' literally as 後ろに下がる (to physically step backward). That refers to physical movement, not conceding in an argument.