1.
to step aside, to move out of the way
To move from one's current position to make room.
ちょっと退いてください。
Please step aside for a moment.
道を退く。
To get out of the way.
そこを退いて！
Move out of there!
危ないから退いて。
It's dangerous, so move away.
邪魔だから退いてくれ。
You're in the way, so move.
写真を撮るから少し退いて。
Move a bit so I can take a photo.
2.
to withdraw, to retire
To leave a position or place.
社長の座を退く。
To step down as president.
役職を退く。
To resign from a position.
引退して表舞台を退いた。
Retired and withdrew from the public eye.
第一線を退く。
To retire from the front lines.
長年務めた委員長の座を退いて、後任に任せることにした。
I stepped down from my long-held position as committee chair and decided to leave it to my successor.
退く is a godan verb meaning to move out of the way or step aside.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 自動詞 (intransitive)
- No transitive pair with same reading
REGISTER:
Casual to neutral. Common in everyday speech for asking people to move.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 道を退く: to get out of the way
- そこを退く: to move from there
- 座を退く: to step down from a position
IMPERATIVE FORMS:
- 退け！: Move! (rough command)
- 退いて！: Please move! (te-form request)
- 退いてください: Please step aside (polite)
ALTERNATE READING:
- 退く: to retreat, withdraw (more formal/literary)
SIMILAR:
- どける (transitive): to move something out of the way