Japanese symbol for “retreat”
後退
こうたい
Romaji: koutai
retreat; falling back; moving backwards; reversing
In Japanese, retreat is 後退, read こうたい (koutai).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vi, vs retreat; falling back; moving backwards; reversing; backing up (of a vehicle); retrogression
- n, vi, vs recession; waning
- n backspace (key) (comp)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “retreat”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 撤退 | てったい tettai | evacuation; withdrawal; revocation |
| 退却 | たいきゃく taikyaku | retreat; withdrawal; retirement |
| 走る | はしる hashiru | to retreat; to flee; to defect (to) |
| 庵 | いおり iori | hermitage; retreat |
| 引っ込み | ひっこみ hikkomi | retreat; retirement; depression (hole) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 最後 | さいご saigo | end; conclusion |
| 今後 | こんご kongo | from now on; hereafter |
| 午後 | ごご gogo | afternoon; p.m. |
| 後半 | こうはん kouhan | second half; latter half |
| 後ろ | うしろ ushiro | back; behind; rear |
| 直後 | ちょくご chokugo | immediately following |
| 引退 | いんたい intai | retirement |
| 退職 | たいしょく taishoku | retirement; resignation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “retreat”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.