Word
辞退
Meaning in Englishrefusal
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 辞退 mean? It means to decline or refuse a request, offer, or position, often formally, and to withdraw one's participation or candidacy. Used for invitations, applications, or roles, typically in formal or official contexts.
Main meanings
- Formal refusal or rejection of an offer, appointment, or invitation
- Voluntary withdrawal from consideration for a role or program
- Withdrawal of participation in a project, committee, or event
How to use it
Used in formal or official contexts, especially in business, politics, academia, and administrative settings; typically realized as 辞退する or 辞退します in written notices or polite speech; contexts include invitations to events, candidacies, job offers, or committee memberships.
Variants and close terms
- 断る (kotowaru) — to refuse; general, commonly used in everyday speech
- 辞退する (jitai suru) — to decline or withdraw explicitly
- 辞退を表明する (jitai o hyōmei suru) — to formally announce one's withdrawal
Composition
- 辞: decline or refuse; used to express saying no, often in decision-making
- 退: retreat or withdraw; signals stepping back from a commitment
- The combination creates the sense of declining an offer or withdrawing from participation
Etymology
辞 combines with 退 to convey speaking a decision and stepping back; the compound frames the act of declining in a formal context.
Word class
verb (サ変動詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N3
引退
intai
retirement, withdrawal
N3
お辞儀
ojigi
bow, respectful bow
N3
辞める
yameru
quit, resign, retire
N3
退屈
taikutsu
boredom, boring, dull
N3
退く
doku
to retreat, to recede, to withdraw
N3
退学
taigaku
dropping out of school
N4
辞典
jiten
encyclopedia, reference book
N4
退院
taiin
leaving hospital, hospital discharge
N4
退院する
taiin suru
leave hospital, be discharged