The Chinese word 退役 (tuìyì) is a verb-object compound formed by combining the character 退 (tuì), meaning "to withdraw" or "to retreat", with 役 (yì), meaning "military service" or "duty". Literally, it means "to withdraw from service". This term logically extends from its primary military context, where a soldier leaves active service, to broader applications, such as an athlete retiring from professional sports or equipment being decommissioned, all conveying the core idea of formally leaving an active post or duty.