tuìchū: 退出 - To Withdraw, Quit, Exit, Log Out

• Keywords: tuichu, 退出, tuìchū, withdraw from, quit, exit, log out Chinese, leave a group Chinese, drop out Chinese, secede Chinese, resign from Chinese, how to say quit in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to say “quit” or “log out” in Chinese with the essential verb 退出 (tuìchū). This page breaks down its meaning, from exiting a computer system to withdrawing from a competition or resigning from an organization. Discover its cultural nuances and see practical examples to understand how to use 退出 correctly in modern Chinese conversation and avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tuìchū
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To withdraw from, exit, or quit a group, system, competition, or organization.
• In a Nutshell: 退出 (tuìchū) is about formally removing yourself from an entity or a status. Think of it as “backing out” of something. It's not just about physically leaving a place, but about ending your membership, participation, or connection. Whether you're logging out of an app, dropping out of a race, or leaving a company, 退出 is the word you need.

• 退 (tuì): This character means “to retreat,” “to move back,” or “to return.” It's composed of the radical 辶 (chuò), which signifies walking or movement. Imagine a soldier retreating from a battle line—that's the core idea of 退.
• 出 (chū): This character means “to go out” or “to exit.” It's a pictogram of a foot stepping over a line or a plant sprouting from the ground. It signifies emergence or moving from inside to outside.
• When combined, 退出 (tuìchū) literally means “to retreat and exit.” This powerful combination clearly conveys the idea of formally backing out of a situation or group.

While 退出 (tuìchū) is a straightforward, functional verb, the act of “quitting” it describes can carry different cultural weight compared to the West. In Western, particularly American, culture, quitting a job is often framed as a positive, proactive step—“moving on to a better opportunity” or “taking control of your career.” It's highly individualistic. In Chinese culture, which has stronger collectivist roots, the decision to 退出 a group (like a company or a team) can be viewed more seriously. It might be seen as a disruption to the group's harmony or a failure to endure hardship (`吃苦`, chīkǔ). While this is changing with younger generations, there can still be an underlying expectation of loyalty and a sense of responsibility to the collective you are leaving. Announcing you want to 退出 a project might require more careful explanation to ensure you don't cause others to “lose face” (`丢面子`, diū miànzi). It's less about your individual journey and more about how your departure impacts the group.

退出 (tuìchū) is an extremely common and versatile verb used in many modern contexts.

• Digital Life: This is one of the most frequent uses. On almost any app, website, or software, the “Log Out” or “Exit” button will be labeled 退出.
  • `退出登录 (tuìchū dēnglù)` - Log out
  • `退出程序 (tuìchū chéngxù)` - Exit the program/app
  • `退出群聊 (tuìchū qúnliáo)` - Leave the group chat
• Competitions and Activities: When someone can no longer participate in an event.
  • `退出比赛 (tuìchū bǐsài)` - Withdraw from the competition
  • `退出选举 (tuìchū xuǎnjǔ)` - Withdraw from the election
• Business and Organizations: This is the formal way to talk about leaving a company, organization, or market.
  • `退出公司 (tuìchū gōngsī)` - To leave the company (more formal than `辞职`, cízhí, which just means 'to resign').
  • `退出市场 (tuìchū shìchǎng)` - To withdraw from a market.
  • `退出欧盟 (tuìchū Ōuméng)` - To withdraw from the European Union (Brexit).

• Example 1:
  • 别忘了在离开前退出你的账户。
  • Pinyin: Bié wàngle zài líkāi qián tuìchū nǐ de zhànghù.
  • English: Don't forget to log out of your account before you leave.
  • Analysis: A very common digital command. Here, 退出 specifically means to log out of a system.
• Example 2:
  • 由于脚踝受伤，那名运动员被迫退出了比赛。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú jiǎohuái shòushāng, nà míng yùndòngyuán bèipò tuìchū le bǐsài.
  • English: Due to an ankle injury, that athlete was forced to withdraw from the competition.
  • Analysis: This shows 退出 used for dropping out of an event or competition. It implies a formal withdrawal of participation.
• Example 3:
  • 经过慎重考虑，他决定退出公司，开始自己的事业。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò shènzhòng kǎolǜ, tā juédìng tuìchū gōngsī, kāishǐ zìjǐ de shìyè.
  • English: After careful consideration, he decided to leave the company and start his own business.
  • Analysis: Here, 退出 is used more formally than the everyday word for resigning (`辞职`, cízhí). It emphasizes leaving the entire corporate entity.
• Example 4:
  • 这个微信群太吵了，我要退出群聊。
  • Pinyin: Zhège Wēixìn qún tài chǎo le, wǒ yào tuìchū qúnliáo.
  • English: This WeChat group is too noisy, I'm going to leave the group chat.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of modern, everyday digital usage.
• Example 5:
  • 2020年，英国正式退出了欧盟。
  • Pinyin: Èr líng èr líng nián, Yīngguó zhèngshì tuìchū le Ōuméng.
  • English: In 2020, the United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of 退出 in a major political and international context.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你觉得这门课对你来说太难，你现在还可以退出。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ juéde zhè mén kè duì nǐ lái shuō tài nán, nǐ xiànzài hái kěyǐ tuìchū.
  • English: If you feel this course is too difficult for you, you can still drop out now.
  • Analysis: Used in an academic context for withdrawing from a course or program (`退学` is specifically “dropping out of school”).
• Example 7:
  • 由于竞争激烈，许多外国公司选择退出中国市场。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú jìngzhēng jīliè, xǔduō wàiguó gōngsī xuǎnzé tuìchū Zhōngguó shìchǎng.
  • English: Due to fierce competition, many foreign companies have chosen to withdraw from the Chinese market.
  • Analysis: A common business and economic term.
• Example 8:
  • 他一言不发地退出了会议室。
  • Pinyin: Tā yī yán bù fā de tuìchū le huìyìshì.
  • English: He withdrew from the conference room without saying a word.
  • Analysis: In this context, 退出 is more dramatic and formal than simply “leaving” (`离开`). It implies he is removing himself from the proceedings entirely, perhaps in protest.
• Example 9:
  • 按“ESC”键可以退出全屏模式。
  • Pinyin: Àn “ESC” jiàn kěyǐ tuìchū quánpíng móshì.
  • English: Press the “ESC” key to exit full-screen mode.
  • Analysis: Another extremely common instruction in software and user interfaces.
• Example 10:
  • 在签署合同后，单方面退出将会有法律后果。
  • Pinyin: Zài qiānshǔ hétóng hòu, dān方面 tuìchū jiāng huì yǒu fǎlǜ hòuguǒ.
  • English: After signing the contract, unilaterally withdrawing will have legal consequences.
  • Analysis: This shows 退出 used in a legal context, meaning to back out of an agreement or contract.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 退出 (tuìchū) with 离开 (líkāi).

• 离开 (líkāi): To physically leave a place. It's about changing your location.
  • `我下午五点离开办公室。` (Wǒ xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn líkāi bàngōngshì.) - I leave the office at 5 PM.
• 退出 (tuìchū): To withdraw your membership, status, or participation from an entity. It's about changing your relationship with a group or system.
  • `我下个月退出这个公司。` (Wǒ xià ge yuè tuìchū zhège gōngsī.) - I am leaving this company next month.

Key Rule of Thumb: You 离开 a building, but you 退出 the organization that is inside the building. Incorrect Usage Example:

• Incorrect: `我每天早上七点退出家。` (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn tuìchū jiā.)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds like you are formally seceding from your family every morning. You are only physically leaving the location.
• Correct: `我每天早上七点离开家。` (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn líkāi jiā.) or `我每天早上七点出门。` (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn chūmén.)

• 离开 (líkāi) - To leave (a physical place). The most important term to distinguish from 退出.
• 加入 (jiārù) - To join. The direct antonym of 退出 when referring to groups and organizations.
• 登录 (dēnglù) - To log in. The direct antonym of 退出 in a digital context.
• 辞职 (cízhí) - To resign from a job. This is a very specific and common type of 退出.
• 退学 (tuìxué) - To drop out of school. A specific term for withdrawing from an educational institution.
• 放弃 (fàngqì) - To give up, to abandon. While related to quitting, 放弃 is about ceasing an effort or a right (e.g., giving up a dream), whereas 退出 is about removing yourself from a formal entity.
• 退场 (tuìchǎng) - To exit the stage; to leave the field/arena. Often used for performers, athletes, or a business leaving a market.
• 退货 (tuìhuò) - To return goods/merchandise. Shares the character 退 (to return).