退

tuì

艮 + 辶

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

tuì (verb) to retreat; to withdraw

tuì (verb) to decline; to reject

tuì (verb) to move back

Etymology

Depicts moving (辶) a sacrificial grain offering (簋) away. Based on the original meaning "take away a sacrificial offering". The meaning later shifted to "withdraw" and "retreat".

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 艮

About

退 combines the movement radical 辶 with 艮, a simplified form of an ancient character for a sacrificial grain vessel (簋). Together they depict moving the offering away, giving the original meaning "take away a sacrificial offering", which shifted to "withdraw" and "retreat". As usage expanded, the character came to describe abstract ideas such as declining in quality, dropping in temperature, returning merchandise, or retiring from a career.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他退后了一步。

Tā tuìhòule yī bù.

He stepped back a step.

我退出了比赛。

Wǒ tuìchūle bǐsài.

I withdrew from the competition.

她退休后很幸福。

Tā tuìxiū hòu hěn xìngfú.

She is very happy after retirement.

请退还我的钱。

Qǐng tuìhuán wǒ de qián.

Please refund my money.

他的成绩退步了。

Tā de chéngjì tuìbùle.

His grades have declined.

我需要退掉这张票。

Wǒ xūyào tuì diào zhè zhāng piào.

I need to refund this ticket.

他因为生病退学了。

Tā yīnwèi shēngbìng tuìxuéle.

He dropped out of school due to illness.

如果你不满意，可以退货。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù mǎnyì, kěyǐ tuìhuò.

If you are not satisfied, you can return the goods.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 艮

Component: 辶

Example Words