退職をする

You’ll mostly see this in formal conversations or written notices. In a sentence, you usually mark the company or the job with を. For example, 会社を退職をする (to resign from the company). Interestingly, the を between 退職 and する is often dropped in casual speech to become 退職する, but keeping it makes you sound more deliberate. It’s like the difference between saying 'I’m quitting' and 'I am undertaking the process of resignation.' You’ll use it when talking to your boss, HR, or even your parents when you have big news. Just don't say it to your barista when you're leaving the cafe—that would be very confusing!

Imagine you’ve finally landed that dream remote job at a tech startup. You sit down with your manager on Zoom. You say, 今月末で退職をすることにしました (I have decided to resign at the end of this month). It’s professional and leaves no room for misunderstanding. Or maybe you see a colleague’s post on a social network saying, 本日、長年勤めた会社を退職をしました (Today, I resigned from the company I worked at for many years). It’s the standard announcement for a career milestone. It’s also used in the news when high-profile CEOs step down. It’s a versatile tool in your professional toolkit.

Use this when the situation is 'serious business.' It’s perfect for full-time roles, long-term contracts, or when you want to show respect to your employer. If you’re writing a formal email to HR, this is your go-to. If you’re being interviewed for a new job and they ask why you left your last one, use 退職をしました to sound like a composed professional. It shows you understand the weight of the commitment you are ending. It’s the verbal equivalent of wearing a suit to a meeting.

Avoid using this for small things. You don't 退職をする from a hobby, a gym, or a relationship. That would sound like you’re trying to give your boyfriend a severance package! Also, if you have a very casual part-time job (a 'baito'), 辞める (yameru) is usually more natural. 退職をする is too 'heavy' for quitting a weekend gig at a bubble tea shop. And definitely don't use it if you were fired—there are much less pleasant words for that situation that you hopefully never have to use!

A very common trap is saying 仕事が退職する. Remember, you are the one doing the action to the job or company, so use を. Another mistake is using it for 'taking a break.' If you’re just going on vacation, 退職 is definitely not what you want to say unless you don't plan on coming back! Also, watch out for the difference between 退職 and 退院 (tai-in). One is leaving a job, the other is leaving a hospital. Telling your boss you're 'leaving the hospital' when you mean 'quitting' might get you some unwanted sympathy flowers.

If 退職をする feels too stiff, you can use 辞める (yameru). It’s the all-purpose 'to quit' or 'to stop.' It’s much more common among friends. On the flip side, if you want to be even MORE formal—like a government official stepping down—you might hear 辞職する (jishoku suru). There’s also 離職する (rishoku suru), which is often used in technical or statistical contexts, like 'labor turnover rates.' But for 90% of your professional life, 退職をする is the goldilocks choice—just right.

You’ll often see this paired with other words to be more specific. 定年退職 (teinen taishoku) is the classic 'retirement' when you reach the age limit. 寿退職 (kotobuki taishoku) is a traditional term for leaving a job because you’re getting married (though this is becoming less common). Then there’s 自己都合退職 (jiko tsugō taishoku), which is the HR term for 'resigning for personal reasons.' It’s like a 'choose your own adventure' book, but with more paperwork and fewer dragons.

Is it always voluntary? Usually, yes, but it can be the general term for leaving. Is it polite? Yes, it's very professional. Can I use it for a 'baito'? You can, but it sounds a bit like you’re a 19th-century butler quitting a post. It’s a phrase that signals maturity and a serious career move. Use it with confidence, and your Japanese coworkers will definitely be impressed by your professional polish.