How to say "retire" in Japanese

• 引き下がるひきさがるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'retire' in the sense of withdrawing or backing off — from a demand, a negotiation, or a confrontation — rather than leaving a job; think of someone refusing to back down.
• 辞めるやめるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe everyday verb for ending employment: it covers resign, quit, and retire from work, and is the natural choice when you announce that you are leaving your job or company.
  彼かれはやめるほか仕方しかたがない。↗

  He has no choice but to resign.
• どくJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbAlthough glossed 'resign; retire; quit; secede', this is seldom the word you want for retiring from work — it is really the verb for stepping aside or getting out of the way.

For retiring from a job use 「辞める」; 「引き下がる」 is for withdrawing or backing off from a position, demand, or confrontation; 「どく」, despite its gloss, is really about stepping aside and seldom means retire.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 引き下がるひきさがるto withdraw
• 辞めるやめるto resign
• 臥すふすto lie down (in bed)
• 一線を退くいっせんをしりぞくto step back
• 身を引くみをひくto resign
• 降りるおりるto step down
• 隠れるかくれるto live in seclusion
• どくto resign
• 退くしりぞくto resign
• さがるto move back
• 休むやすむto go to bed
• 引き上げるひきあげるto withdraw
• 謝するしゃするto say farewell
• 御免被るごめんこうむるto leave (with someone's permission)
• 謝すしゃすto say farewell
• 御免を蒙るごめんをこうむるto leave (with someone's permission)
• 引くひくto resign