定 年(ていねん)

ていねん

noun

retirement age; mandatory retirement

1. retirement age; mandatory retirement age

The age at which employees are required to retire from a company, typically 60-65 in Japan. Upon reaching this age, employees leave their regular positions.

父(ちち)は来年(らいねん)定年(ていねん)を迎(むか)える。

My father reaches retirement age next year.

定年(ていねん)が65歳(さい)に引(ひ)き上(あ)げられた。

The retirement age was raised to 65.

定年(ていねん)後(ご)も働(はたら)き続(つづ)ける人(ひと)が増(ふ)えている。

More people are continuing to work after retirement age.

Etymology

定(てい) (fixed, set) + 年(ねん) (age, year)

Literally "set age" - the predetermined age for retirement.

CULTURAL NOTE (retirement ages):

Traditional: 60歳(さい)
Current trend: 65歳(さい) (due to aging society)
Some companies: 70歳(さい) or later

Related words

定年退職(ていねんたいしょく) - mandatory retirement
早期退職(そうきたいしょく) - early retirement
再雇用(さいこよう) - rehiring (after retirement age)
嘱託(しょくたく) - contract employee (post-retirement)

Common expressions

定年(ていねん)を迎(むか)える - to reach retirement age
定年(ていねん)まで働(はたら)く - to work until retirement
定年(ていねん)延長(えんちょう) - extending retirement age
定年(ていねん)引上(ひきあ)げ - raising retirement age

Cultural note

With Japan's aging population and labor shortage, many companies are:

Raising 定年(ていねん) to 65 or 70
Offering 再雇用(さいこよう) programs
Eliminating mandatory retirement altogether

Related Words

Related: 退職金(たいしょくきん) (retirement allowance)

Related: 早期退職(そうきたいしょく) (early retirement)

Related: 再雇用(さいこよう) (rehiring)

Related: 嘱託(しょくたく) (contract employee)

Compare: 引退(いんたい) (retirement)

Related: 終身雇用制(しゅうしんこようせい) (lifetime employment system)

general

Added 2026.1.20 14:43 · Revised 2026.10.11 22:20

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