Meaning and Usage
"引退" (いんたい) means "retirement" or "withdrawal" from a profession, activity, or public role. It is commonly used for athletes, company executives, or anyone leaving their career or public duties.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "引退" in sports contexts, such as a player retiring from professional sports, or in business when a company president or employee retires. It can also refer to retiring from public life or other long-term commitments.
Collocations and Patterns
- 引退する: to retire (verb form)
- 引退を決める: to decide to retire
- 引退後: after retirement
These phrases are used to talk about the act of retiring, the decision process, and life after retirement.
Register and Nuance
"引退" is a formal word often used in news, official announcements, and respectful conversations. It is not casual slang but is appropriate in everyday polite speech when discussing retirement.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "引退" with "退職" (たいしょく), which also means retirement but is more specific to leaving a job or company. "引退" has a broader use including sports and public roles, while "退職" is mainly for employment.
Use "引退" when emphasizing leaving a career or public activity, especially in sports or leadership roles.