撤退

• Reading: てったい
• Romaji: tettai
• Kanji breakdown: 撤 (tetsu) — withdraw, remove; 退 (tai/shiri) — retreat, step back
• Pronunciation: /tet.tai/

Meaning

Withdrawal; retreat; pullout. The act of withdrawing forces, personnel, or operations from a position or market.

A suru-verb noun (撤退する) used in military, business, and diplomatic contexts. In business it commonly describes exiting a market or discontinuing an operation. Unlike 敗退 (which implies defeat), 撤退 is neutral and may be a strategic choice rather than a forced retreat.

Examples

1. 競合他社が市場から撤退したことで好機が生まれた。 A rival company's withdrawal from the market created a new opportunity.
2. 採算が合わないとして、事業からの撤退を決めた。 It was decided to withdraw from the business on the grounds that it was not profitable.
3. 軍が占領地から撤退する交渉が始まった。 Negotiations for the military to withdraw from the occupied territory have begun.

Usage Guide

Context: business, military, diplomacy

Tone: decisive

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound of 撤 (withdraw, remove) and 退 (retreat, step back). Together they describe a full withdrawal from a position.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional