How to Write 退 (retreat, withdraw, retire, resign, repel) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 9-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) character 退 (“retreat, withdraw, retire, resign, repel”), indexed under the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical. Practice 退 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 退く (しりぞく (shirizoku) — retreat), 退ける (しりぞける (shirizokeru) — retreat).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (退)
Primary Radical (部首): 辵 — しんにょう (road/advance)
Radical Position: Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) (繞 (Nyō))
Semantic Theme: Walking, movement, travel, progression, and distance
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生) (JLPT N3). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タイ) when 退 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しりぞ.く, しりぞ.ける, ひ.く, の.く, の.ける, ど.く) when 退 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (9画): Written with 9 strokes, 退 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical (Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) position). Establish the 辵 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 9 strokes under radical 辵.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 退
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 退 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 退 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 退 ("retreat, withdraw, retire, resign, repel") is written with 9 strokes (9画) as a JLPT N3 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 6 (小学6年生)) intermediate multi-component Kanji (6–11 strokes) indexed under the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical. Written with 9 strokes, 退 is an intermediate multi-component character built around the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) radical (Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) position). Establish the 辵 component first in its quadrant so the remaining 7 strokes maintain balanced left-right or top-bottom proportions.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 退?
For 退 (JLPT N3), the Onyomi is タイ and the Kunyomi is しりぞ.く, しりぞ.ける, ひ.く, の.く, の.ける, ど.く. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (タイ) when 退 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (しりぞ.く, しりぞ.ける, ひ.く, の.く, の.ける, ど.く) when 退 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 退 includes 退く (しりぞく (shirizoku) — retreat), 退ける (しりぞける (shirizokeru) — retreat).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 退 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 9 strokes of 退 (retreat, withdraw, retire, resign, repel), start with the 辵 (しんにょう (road/advance)) in the Wrapping (Nyō / 繞) (繞 (Nyō)) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 退 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
More JLPT N3 Characters to Practice Next
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