定年退職しました
teinen taishoku shimashita
The English phrase "I am retired" is expressed in Japanese as 定年退職しました (teinen taishoku shimashita).
This phrase is used specifically when someone has reached the company or legal retirement age, rather than leaving a job early or by choice.
What does it mean word for word?
The part 退職しました (taishoku shimashita) means "resigned" or "left a job" in the past tense.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English 'I am retired' which describes a current state, the Japanese phrase 定年退職しました describes the completed action of retiring at the mandatory age.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the polite past tense form shimashita to indicate the action of retiring has already been completed.
How do you pronounce it?
teinen taishoku shimashita
Did you know?
- In formal settings, a retiree might use the word 隠居 (inkyo), which historically referred to the practice of 'secluding oneself' from public life to let a successor take over. While rare in modern business, it still carries a nuance of stepping away from the world.
- A retired person might describe their new status as 悠々自適 (yūyū jiteki), a four-character idiom meaning to live a life of leisure and freedom. It focuses on the psychological state of peace rather than the administrative act of leaving a job.
- In Japan, the concept of 定年 (teinen) is often a rigid company rule rather than just a government guideline. Many employees historically stopped working exactly on the day they hit 60, regardless of their health or desire to continue.
Examples in context
- 定年退職しました。Teinen taishoku shimashita.I am retired.
- 父は去年、定年退職しました。Chichi wa kyonen, teinen taishoku shimashita.My father retired last year.
- 定年退職しましたので、今は毎日ゆっくりしています。Teinen taishoku shimashita node, ima wa mainichi yukkuri shite imasu.Since I am retired, I am relaxing every day now.
Example conversation
Hana and Ren are chatting about their fathers' careers.
- 陽葵 Himariお父さんはまだお仕事をしていますか？Otousan wa mada oshigoto o shite imasu ka?Is your father still working?
- 蓮 Renいいえ、父は今年、定年退職しました。Iie, chichi wa kotoshi, teinen taishoku shimashita.No, my father retired this year.
- 陽葵 Himariそうなんですね。ゆっくりできそうですね。Sou nan desu ne. Yukkuri dekisou desu ne.I see. It seems like he can finally relax.
- 蓮 Renはい、今は旅行を楽しんでいます。Hai, ima wa ryokou o tanoshinde imasu.Yes, he is enjoying traveling now.
