How to say "retreat" in Japanese

• 後退こうたいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers retreat as physical backward movement — a force falling back, a vehicle reversing. The word focuses on the motion itself rather than an organized, planned withdrawal.
• 退却たいきゃくCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe word for retreat in the military sense: an organized withdrawal of troops from a battle or position. Use it when the retreat is a deliberate operation rather than mere backward motion.
  彼かれらは退却たいきゃくするしかなかった。↗

  They had no alternative but to retreat.
• 退くしりぞくJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbA verb: to step back, move back, or retreat from where one stands. Choose it when you need the action of drawing back or giving ground, not a noun for the retreat itself.
• 庵いおりCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)Here 'retreat' means a secluded place, not an act of withdrawing: a hermitage, a small dwelling where one lives apart in quiet. It is unrelated to falling back or military retreat.
• 引っ込みひっこみCommon
  nounCovers a recess or hollow — a spot set back from its surroundings — and the sense of retiring or withdrawing into oneself; not the word for a military retreat.

Choose 後退 for literal backward movement, 退却 for an organized retreat or withdrawal, 「退く」 as the verb to step back, 庵 for a retreat as a secluded place, and 「引っ込み」 for a recess or withdrawal into oneself.

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

• 後退こうたいretreat
• 退却たいきゃくretreat
• 退くしりぞくto step back
• 庵いおりhermitage
• 引っ込みひっこみretreat
• 撤退てったいevacuation
• リトリートretreat (e.g. from life)
• 後ずさるあとずさるto retreat
• 引き去るひきさるto retreat
• 隠宅いんたくretreat
• 修養会しゅうようかいretreat (religious, spiritual)
• 庵室あんしつhermit's cell
• 幽居ゆうきょhermitage
• 後へ引くあとへひくto back down
• 隠れ家かくれがretreat
• ネストhideout
• 退陣たいじんretreat
• 撤収てっしゅうwithdrawal (of troops)
• 山ごもりやまごもりretreat
• プルバックretreat
• 謝するしゃするto say farewell
• 謝すしゃすto say farewell
• 走るはしるto retreat
• 引くひくto move back