退く · godan verb (-ku)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 退く | 退かない |
| Polite | 退きます | 退きません |
| Past polite | 退きました | 退きませんでした |
| Past | 退いた | 退かなかった |
| Te-form | 退いて | 退かないで |
| Desire | 退きたい | 退きたくない |
| Potential | 退ける | 退けない |
| Passive | 退かれる | 退かれない |
| Causative | 退かせる | 退かせない |
| Causative passive | 退かせられるalso 退かされる | 退かせられないalso 退かされない |
| Volitional | 退こう | |
| Polite volitional | 退きましょう | |
| Imperative | 退け | 退くな |
| Conditional | 退けば | 退かなければ |
| Tara conditional | 退いたら | 退かなかったら |
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Physical movement backward, often in response to something. Can be used for stepping back, pulling back troops, or receding.
He stepped back in surprise.
The enemy troops retreated beyond the mountain.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Formal or respectful withdrawal from a superior's presence, or leaving a place in a dignified manner.
The audience ended, and the retainer quietly withdrew.
I was told to leave the conference room.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Leaving a position, job, or public role, often voluntarily or under pressure.
The president resigned to take responsibility.
He decided to retire from the political world.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Giving way in an argument, competition, or conflict; accepting the other side's position.
The opponent showed no sign of backing down in the argument.
He stuck to his opinion to the end and didn't concede an inch.
The soldiers retreated from the battlefield.
He took a step back and bowed.
He quietly withdrew from the president's presence.
He stepped down from the position of chairman.
He backed down from the argument and accepted the other person's opinion.
退く is a more formal verb for withdrawing, often used in official or military contexts, while 引っ込む is everyday and casual.
退く means to retreat or step back physically or from a position, but 身を引く emphasizes the personal, voluntary aspect of withdrawing oneself.
抵抗する means to resist or oppose, the opposite of 退く's sense of conceding or backing down in an argument.
退く means to step down from or leave a post or position, the opposite of 就く, which means to take up or assume that post.
Kana spelling is acceptable when the kanji is not needed.
Rarely used kanji form.