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탈퇴하다

A2 verb #8,000 most common 12 min read

탈퇴하다

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 탈퇴하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 탈퇴하다 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should know that 탈퇴하다 means 'to leave' a group. In Korea, many people join 'cafes' (online communities) or clubs. When you don't want to be in that club anymore, you use this word. It's like saying 'I quit the club.' You might see it on a website as a button. It is a bit more difficult than '나가다' (to go out), but it's very important if you use Korean apps. Think of it as the 'Delete Account' or 'Leave Group' button. For example, '동아리 탈퇴' means leaving a school club. Even at this early stage, knowing this word helps you navigate Korean internet settings and understand when someone is no longer part of a small group. It's a formal way to say goodbye to a group membership.

At the A2 level, you can start using 탈퇴하다 in full sentences. You should understand that it is used for organizations and websites. You will often use it with the particle '에서' (from) or '을/를' (object marker). For example, '저는 그 사이트에서 탈퇴했어요' (I withdrew from 그 site). This is the level where you distinguish between 'logging out' and 'withdrawing.' You also learn that it is a '하다' verb, so it follows all the standard conjugation rules you've learned. You might encounter it when talking about hobbies, like leaving a sports club or a study group. It's a useful word for explaining why you aren't participating in something anymore—you've officially left the group.

At the B1 level, you should be aware of the social and administrative nuances of 탈퇴하다. You understand that leaving a group in Korea often involves a specific procedure. You can use phrases like '탈퇴 절차' (withdrawal procedure) or '탈퇴 사유' (reason for withdrawal). You might also encounter the passive form '탈퇴당하다' (to be expelled/forced to leave), which is important for understanding social dynamics or news stories. You can discuss the consequences of withdrawing, such as losing data or not being able to re-join for a certain period. This level also involves recognizing the word in more formal contexts, like news reports about minor celebrities leaving their groups or organizations.

At the B2 level, you use 탈퇴하다 to discuss more complex topics like politics and international relations. You can talk about '정당 탈퇴' (leaving a political party) or '조직 탈퇴' (leaving an organization). You understand that this word implies a formal break and often a change in ideology or direction. You can compare 탈퇴하다 with similar words like '사퇴하다' (to resign from a position) or '해지하다' (to cancel a contract) and choose the correct one based on the context. You are also comfortable using the word in professional writing, such as an email formally requesting to be removed from a professional association's mailing list or membership roster.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the Hanja roots (脫 - escape, 退 - retreat) and how they influence the word's meaning. You can use 탈퇴하다 in academic or legal contexts, such as discussing the legal ramifications of a country withdrawing from a treaty (조약 탈퇴). You understand the historical context of the word and can use it to describe secessionist movements or major shifts in institutional membership. You can pick up on the subtle emotional or political connotations when the word is used in editorials or high-level debates. Your usage is precise, distinguishing it from '이탈' (deviation) or '변절' (apostasy/betrayal) depending on the speaker's intent and the group's nature.

At the C2 level, you master the use of 탈퇴하다 in the most nuanced literary and philosophical contexts. You can discuss the concept of '탈퇴' as an act of individual agency against a collective, or as a structural necessity in international law. you are familiar with archaic or highly specific related terms and can use 탈퇴하다 to explain complex social phenomena, such as the 'opt-out' culture in modern digital societies. You can handle complex sentence structures involving the word, such as '탈퇴를 기점으로 한 관계의 재구성' (reconstruction of relationships starting from the point of withdrawal). Your understanding is native-equivalent, allowing you to use and interpret the word in any professional, legal, or social scenario.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

탈퇴하다 in 30 Seconds

탈퇴하다 means to formally leave or withdraw from a group or organization.
It is the standard term for deleting an account or cancelling a membership on Korean websites.
It is composed of Hanja meaning 'escape' and 'retreat,' implying a formal exit from a circle.
It is used for everything from K-pop groups and school clubs to international treaties and political parties.

The Korean verb 탈퇴하다 (taltoehada) is a cornerstone of modern Korean social and digital life. At its core, it means 'to withdraw,' 'to secede,' or 'to leave' a formal organization, group, or online platform. Unlike the general verb '나가다' (to go out), 탈퇴하다 carries a weight of formality and finality. It signifies the official termination of membership. In a world dominated by social media and digital services, you will most frequently encounter this word in the context of deleting an account or leaving an online community (often called a 'cafe' in Korea). However, its reach extends far beyond the screen, touching upon politics, sports, and international relations.

Digital Context: In the digital sphere, '회원 탈퇴' (membership withdrawal) is the standard term for deleting an account. Whether you are leaving KakaoTalk, Naver, or a mobile game, this is the action you are performing.
Social Context: When a member of a K-pop group decides to leave the band, the media uses '탈퇴'. It implies a formal break from the contract and the collective identity of the group.

저는 그 인터넷 카페에서 탈퇴하기로 했어요. (I decided to withdraw from that internet cafe.)

The word is composed of two Hanja characters: 脫 (탈), meaning 'to escape' or 'to take off,' and 退 (퇴), meaning 'to retreat' or 'to step back.' Together, they paint a picture of someone actively stepping out of a circle they once belonged to. This sense of 'leaving a circle' is vital. You don't 탈퇴하다 a physical room; you 탈퇴하다 a group of people or a system of rules. It is a transition from an 'insider' to an 'outsider' status. Understanding this word is essential for navigating Korean websites, as '탈퇴' is often hidden in settings menus when you want to stop using a service.

영국이 EU에서 탈퇴한 사건을 브렉시트라고 합니다. (The event where the UK withdrew from the EU is called Brexit.)

In political and academic settings, the word takes on a more serious tone. It is used for nations withdrawing from treaties, politicians leaving their political parties (탈당 is a more specific synonym here, but 탈퇴 is the general action), or organizations seceding from a federation. Because it implies a conscious choice, it often carries connotations of disagreement, a change in direction, or a desire for independence. If you are learning Korean to understand the news or business, you will see this word frequently in headlines regarding international agreements or corporate alliances.

그 선수는 팀을 탈퇴하고 은퇴를 선언했습니다. (That player left the team and announced their retirement.)

Scale of Use: From a 10-year-old leaving a gaming clan to a president withdrawing from a global climate pact, the word scales across all levels of society.

Finally, it is worth noting the emotional nuance. While '탈퇴하다' itself is a neutral, administrative verb, the act of leaving can be emotional. In fan communities, a member's '탈퇴' can cause significant distress. Conversely, in the context of leaving a toxic group, '탈퇴' represents liberation. When you use this word, you are focusing on the procedural act of leaving, but you should be aware of the social implications of that departure within the specific group context.

개인 정보 보호를 위해 안 쓰는 사이트는 탈퇴하는 것이 좋습니다. (It is good to withdraw from sites you don't use for personal information protection.)

그는 동호회에서 탈퇴당했습니다. (He was forced to withdraw [expelled] from the club.)

Using 탈퇴하다 correctly involves understanding its relationship with particles and the types of nouns it follows. The most common structure is [Group/Organization] + 에서 + 탈퇴하다 or [Group/Organization] + 를/을 + 탈퇴하다. While both are used, '에서' (from) emphasizes the origin you are leaving, while '을/를' (object marker) treats the group as the target of the action. In digital contexts, '회원 탈퇴를 하다' (to do a membership withdrawal) is a very common fixed expression.

Common Particle Usage: 동아리에서 탈퇴하다 (To withdraw from a club) vs. 동아리를 탈퇴하다 (To leave a club). Both are grammatically correct and widely used.

비밀번호를 잊어버려서 탈퇴할 수 없어요. (I forgot my password, so I can't withdraw/delete my account.)

When conjugating 탈퇴하다, it follows the standard '하다' verb rules. For polite everyday conversation, it becomes 탈퇴해요. In formal settings, such as news reports or business meetings, 탈퇴합니다 or 탈퇴했습니다 is preferred. If you are describing a future intention, 탈퇴할 거예요 or 탈퇴하려고 해요 (I intend to withdraw) is appropriate. A unique variation is 탈퇴당하다, which uses the passive '당하다' to mean 'to be forced to withdraw' or 'to be expelled' from a group.

그는 정치적 견해 차이로 정당을 탈퇴했습니다. (He withdrew from the political party due to differences in political views.)

In the context of 'membership,' you will often see it paired with '회원' (member). 회원 탈퇴 is the noun phrase for 'membership withdrawal.' On Korean websites, look for a button that says '회원 탈퇴' if you want to delete your account. This is usually located within '마이페이지' (My Page) or '설정' (Settings). If you are writing a formal letter to leave an organization, you might use the phrase '탈퇴서를 제출하다' (to submit a withdrawal form).

팬들은 가수의 탈퇴 소식에 큰 충격을 받았습니다. (Fans were greatly shocked by the news of the singer's withdrawal.)

Verb + Reason: Often used with ~기 때문에 (because) or ~(으)로 인해 (due to). Example: '바빠서 동아리를 탈퇴했어요' (I left the club because I was busy).

Another important aspect is the 're-joining' (재가입). Many Korean websites have a policy where you cannot re-join for a certain period after 탈퇴. You might see a warning: '탈퇴 후 30일 동안 재가입이 불가능합니다' (Re-joining is impossible for 30 days after withdrawal). This highlights the formal and sometimes irreversible nature of the action. When you use 탈퇴하다, you are signaling that you are severing a tie, not just taking a temporary break.

조직을 탈퇴하는 것은 쉽지 않은 결정이었습니다. (Withdrawing from the organization was not an easy decision.)

한번 탈퇴하면 데이터를 복구할 수 없습니다. (Once you withdraw, data cannot be recovered.)

You will hear 탈퇴하다 in several distinct environments in Korea. The most common is the digital world. If you watch a Korean YouTuber or streamer, they might talk about '탈퇴' in relation to their fan cafes or social media accounts. In tech support or customer service calls, if you want to cancel a subscription service that involves membership, the representative will use this term. It is the 'official' word for closing an account, making it ubiquitous in the Korean IT industry.

News & Entertainment: Entertainment news is filled with headlines like '멤버 A, 그룹 탈퇴 선언' (Member A announces withdrawal from the group). This is the standard way to report a change in a K-pop group's lineup.

뉴스에서 한 정치인이 당을 탈퇴했다는 소식을 들었어요. (I heard news on the TV that a politician withdrew from the party.)

In a university setting, students use 탈퇴하다 when leaving '동아리' (clubs) or '학회' (academic societies). Since student life in Korea often revolves around these organized groups, the act of leaving one is a common topic of conversation. You might hear a friend say, '나 그 동아리 탈퇴했어' (I left that club). This indicates they are no longer on the roster and have stopped participating in official activities. It's more formal than just saying they aren't going anymore; it means they have been removed from the group chat and the official list.

서비스가 마음에 안 들어서 사이트를 탈퇴했어요. (I didn't like the service, so I withdrew from the site.)

In the political arena, '탈퇴' is a high-stakes word. When a country leaves an international body like the UN, WHO, or a trade agreement, the word 탈퇴 is used in every newspaper. It signifies a major shift in diplomatic relations. Similarly, when a politician leaves their party, it's often a precursor to joining another party or running as an independent. This '탈당' (leaving a party) is a specific type of 탈퇴 that dominates political discourse during election seasons.

그 나라는 국제 기구에서 탈퇴하겠다고 위협했습니다. (That country threatened to withdraw from the international organization.)

Daily Life: You might hear it at the gym or a private academy (hagwon) when discussing the process of ending a membership contract.

Lastly, in the world of online gaming, '길드 탈퇴' (leaving a guild) or '클랜 탈퇴' (leaving a clan) is a daily occurrence. Gamers use the term to describe moving between competitive groups. Because Korean gaming culture is highly organized, the terminology used is often quite formal, reflecting the 'contractual' nature of belonging to a high-level guild. Whether in a virtual world or a real-world political party, 탈퇴하다 is the word for making an exit official.

게임 길드를 탈퇴하고 혼자 플레이하고 있어요. (I left the game guild and am playing alone now.)

그는 노조에서 탈퇴하라는 압박을 받았습니다. (He was pressured to withdraw from the labor union.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is using 탈퇴하다 when they should use '그만두다' (to quit) or '퇴사하다' (to resign from a job). Remember, 탈퇴하다 is for membership in a group or organization. You do not 탈퇴하다 a job; you 퇴사하다. You do not 탈퇴하다 a school; you 자퇴하다 (drop out) or 졸업하다 (graduate). Using the wrong 'leaving' verb can sound very unnatural to native speakers.

Mistake: Leaving a Job: Incorrect: 회사를 탈퇴했어요. (I withdrew from the company.)
Correct: 회사를 그만뒀어요 / 퇴사했어요. (I quit/resigned from the company.)

학교를 탈퇴하다 (X) -> 학교를 자퇴하다 (O). (Dropping out of school has its own specific word.)

Another common confusion arises between 탈퇴하다 and '취소하다' (to cancel). While they are related, they are not interchangeable. You 취소하다 a reservation, an order, or a plan. You 탈퇴하다 a membership. If you want to cancel your Netflix subscription, you might '취소' the payment (결제 취소), but you '탈퇴' the service itself (회원 탈퇴). If you say you '탈퇴' a flight reservation, a Korean speaker will be confused.

예약을 탈퇴하다 (X) -> 예약을 취소하다 (O). (You cancel a reservation, not withdraw from it.)

Learners also struggle with the difference between 탈퇴하다 and '로그아웃하다' (to log out). This is a critical distinction in the digital age. Logging out is temporary; withdrawing is permanent. If you tell a friend '나 인스타그램 탈퇴했어,' they will think you deleted your account forever. If you just meant you logged out for the day, you should say '로그아웃했어.' This mistake can lead to significant misunderstandings about your social media presence!

잠깐 탈퇴할게요 (X) -> 잠깐 로그아웃할게요 (O). (You don't 'withdraw' for a moment; you log out.)

Particle Confusion: Some learners use '와/과' (with) thinking of 'breaking up with a group.' While understandable, '에서' or '을/를' is the standard. '그룹과 탈퇴하다' is rare compared to '그룹에서 탈퇴하다'.

Finally, be careful with the word '탈락하다' (to fail/be eliminated). It sounds similar but means something entirely different. '탈퇴' is a voluntary or formal exit from a group you were already in. '탈락' is failing to get into a group or being eliminated from a competition. If you say you '탈퇴' an audition, people will think you were already a member of the show and then left. If you failed the audition, you '탈락'ed.

시험에서 탈퇴했어요 (X) -> 시험에서 탈락했어요 (O). (You don't withdraw from a test result; you fail it.)

모임에서 탈퇴하는 절차가 너무 복잡해요. (The procedure for withdrawing from the meeting/group is too complicated.)

Korean has several words that mean 'to leave' or 'to withdraw,' each with its own specific domain. Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker. While 탈퇴하다 is the general term for leaving a group, other words are used for specific types of groups like political parties, religious organizations, or jobs.

탈퇴하다 vs. 탈당하다: 탈퇴하다: General withdrawal from any group or site.
탈당하다: Specifically for leaving a political party (정당). You wouldn't use this for a gym or a website.
탈퇴하다 vs. 퇴사하다: 탈퇴하다: Membership withdrawal.
퇴사하다: Leaving a company/job. You are an employee, not just a 'member' in the social sense.

그는 종교 단체에서 탈교했습니다. (He left the religious group - '탈교' is specific to religion.)

Another word often confused is '이탈하다' (to deviate/break away). While 탈퇴하다 is a formal, often administrative act, '이탈하다' implies breaking away from a path, a group, or a duty, often in a negative or unauthorized way. For example, a soldier leaving their post without permission is '군무 이탈.' It suggests a physical or moral straying rather than a formal paperwork process. In contrast, 탈퇴하다 is the 'proper' way to leave.

대오에서 이탈하지 마세요. (Do not break away from the ranks.)

There is also '사퇴하다' (to resign/step down). This is used when someone leaves a specific position or office, like a CEO, a manager, or a candidate in an election. While a CEO might 탈퇴하다 a golf club, they 사퇴하다 from their position as CEO. '사퇴' focuses on the role being given up, whereas '탈퇴' focuses on the membership in the organization being severed.

Comparison Summary: - 탈퇴: Membership (Groups, Sites)
- 사퇴: Position (Jobs, Offices)
- 퇴사: Employment (Companies)
- 자퇴: Student status (Schools)
- 탈당: Political status (Parties)

의원직을 사퇴하고 정당도 탈퇴했습니다. (He resigned from his seat in parliament and also withdrew from the party.)

Finally, '해지하다' (to terminate/cancel) is used for contracts and services like insurance, phone plans, or internet service. If you are ending your relationship with a service provider, you '해지' the contract. However, if that service has a membership component (like a shopping site), you also '탈퇴' the membership. The two often go hand-in-hand but represent different legal/administrative actions.

보험을 해지하고 사이트 회원도 탈퇴했어요. (I cancelled the insurance and also withdrew my membership from the site.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 脫 is also used in '탈출' (escape) and '탈의실' (changing room). It literally suggests taking something off, like a membership 'skin.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK tʰal.tʰwe.ɦa.da

US tʰal.tʰwe.ɦa.da

The stress is relatively even, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable '탈'.

Rhymes With

발퇴하다 (baltoehada - rare) 쇠퇴하다 (soetoehada - to decline) 후퇴하다 (hutoehada - to retreat) 반퇴하다 (bantoehada) 진퇴하다 (jintoehada) 은퇴하다 (euntoehada - to retire) 사퇴하다 (satoehada - to resign) 자퇴하다 (jatoehada - to drop out)

Common Errors

Pronouncing '탈' as 'tal' without aspiration.
Merging '퇴' into a simple 'te' sound.
Dropping the 'h' in 'hada' too much in formal settings.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in menus and news headlines.

Writing 3/5

Requires correct particle usage (에서/를).

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation of 'toe' and 'hae' needs to be clear.

Listening 2/5

Common in digital and social contexts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

가입하다 모임 회원 하다 에서

Learn Next

취소하다 해지하다 사퇴하다 자퇴하다

Advanced

탈당 탈교 이탈 변절

Grammar to Know

-(으)려고 (In order to)

탈퇴하려고 고객센터에 전화했어요.

-기 전에 (Before doing)

탈퇴하기 전에 포인트를 다 쓰세요.

-아서/어서 (Reason)

마음에 안 들어서 탈퇴했어요.

-(으)면 (If/When)

탈퇴하면 다시 들어올 수 없어요.

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다 (Can/Cannot)

여기서 탈퇴할 수 있어요.

Examples by Level

저는 동아리를 탈퇴해요.

I leave the club.

Present tense of 탈퇴하다.

카페 탈퇴 버튼이 어디에 있어요?

Where is the cafe withdrawal button?

Noun '탈퇴' used with a question.

그는 어제 탈퇴했어요.

He withdrew yesterday.

Past tense '탈퇴했어요'.

탈퇴하고 싶어요.

I want to withdraw.

-고 싶다 (want to) attached to the verb stem.

친구도 탈퇴했어요?

Did your friend withdraw too?

Question form in past tense.

여기서 탈퇴하세요.

Please withdraw here.

-세요 (polite command/request).

저는 탈퇴 안 해요.

I am not withdrawing.

'안' negation before the '하다' part of the verb.

회원 탈퇴가 쉬워요.

Membership withdrawal is easy.

Noun phrase '회원 탈퇴' used as a subject.

아이디를 지우려고 사이트를 탈퇴했어요.

I withdrew from the site to delete my ID.

-(으)려고 (in order to) used with the action.

너무 바빠서 운동 모임에서 탈퇴했어요.

I was too busy, so I withdrew from the exercise group.

-아서/어서 (reason/cause) structure.

한번 탈퇴하면 다시 가입할 수 없어요.

Once you withdraw, you cannot join again.

-(으)면 (if/when) and -(으)ㄹ 수 없다 (cannot).

탈퇴하기 전에 글을 다 지웠어요.

Before withdrawing, I deleted all my posts.

-기 전에 (before doing).

그는 왜 갑자기 탈퇴했나요?

Why did he suddenly withdraw?

-나요 (polite question ending).

탈퇴하는 방법을 알려주세요.

Please tell me how to withdraw.

Noun-modifying form -는 + 방법 (method).

잘 안 쓰는 앱은 탈퇴하는 게 좋아요.

It's good to withdraw from apps you don't use much.

-는 게 좋다 (it is good to...).

그녀는 화가 나서 단톡방을 탈퇴했어요.

She was angry, so she left the group chat.

탈퇴하다 used for leaving a digital group chat.

개인 정보 유출이 걱정되어 사이트를 탈퇴했습니다.

I withdrew from the site because I was worried about personal info leaks.

-되어 (being...) as a reason in formal writing.

그 가수는 개인적인 사정으로 팀에서 탈퇴했습니다.

The singer withdrew from the team due to personal circumstances.

Formal -습니다 ending for news-like content.

탈퇴를 고민하고 있는데 어떻게 생각하세요?

I'm considering withdrawing; what do you think?

-고 있다 (progressive) and -는데 (background/context).

회원 탈퇴를 하려면 본인 인증이 필요합니다.

To withdraw membership, identity verification is required.

-(으)려면 (if you intend to).

부당한 대우를 받아서 노조에서 탈퇴하기로 결심했어요.

I decided to withdraw from the union because I received unfair treatment.

-기로 결심하다 (decide to).

탈퇴 버튼을 찾기가 너무 힘들게 만들어 놨어요.

They made it very hard to find the withdrawal button.

-기 힘들다 (hard to do) and -어 놓다 (resultative state).

그는 규칙을 어겨서 동호회에서 탈퇴당했습니다.

He was expelled from the club for breaking the rules.

Passive voice '탈퇴당하다'.

탈퇴 처리가 완료되었다는 이메일을 받았어요.

I received an email saying the withdrawal process was completed.

Noun-modifying clause with -는/ㄴ다는.

영국은 국민투표를 통해 유럽연합에서 탈퇴하기로 했습니다.

The UK decided to withdraw from the EU through a referendum.

~를 통해 (through) and formal decision making.

그 정치인은 당의 노선에 반대하며 탈퇴를 선언했습니다.

The politician announced his withdrawal while opposing the party's line.

-하며 (while doing) and '탈퇴를 선언하다' collocation.

회원 탈퇴 시 모든 포인트와 혜택이 소멸됩니다.

Upon membership withdrawal, all points and benefits will be voided.

Noun + 시 (at the time of).

그는 자신의 신념을 지키기 위해 조직을 탈퇴했습니다.

He withdrew from the organization to protect his beliefs.

-기 위해 (in order to).

탈퇴한 회원들의 정보를 즉시 파기해야 합니다.

The information of members who have withdrawn must be destroyed immediately.

Past-tense noun modifier '탈퇴한'.

연맹에서 탈퇴하겠다는 국가들이 늘어나고 있습니다.

The number of countries saying they will withdraw from the federation is increasing.

-겠다는 (indirect quote of future intent).

그는 탈퇴를 번복하고 다시 팀에 합류했습니다.

He reversed his withdrawal and rejoined the team.

'탈퇴를 번복하다' (to reverse a withdrawal).

탈퇴 신청서에 서명한 후 사무실에 제출하세요.

Sign the withdrawal application and submit it to the office.

-한 후 (after doing).

조약에서의 탈퇴는 국제법상 복잡한 절차를 수반합니다.

Withdrawal from a treaty involves complex procedures under international law.

Abstract noun usage with '수반하다' (to involve/entail).

그는 집단의 광기에서 탈퇴하여 진정한 자아를 찾고자 했습니다.

He sought to find his true self by withdrawing from the madness of the crowd.

Metaphorical usage of 탈퇴.

탈퇴를 결행하기까지 그는 수많은 밤을 고민으로 지새웠습니다.

Until he finally carried out the withdrawal, he spent many nights agonizing over it.

'결행하다' (to carry out) and '-기까지' (until).

일방적인 탈퇴 통보는 파트너십에 치명적인 손상을 입혔습니다.

The unilateral notice of withdrawal caused fatal damage to the partnership.

Adjective '일방적인' (unilateral).

그의 탈퇴는 단순한 개인의 선택을 넘어 조직의 붕괴를 초래했습니다.

His withdrawal went beyond a simple individual choice and led to the collapse of the organization.

~를 넘어 (beyond) and '초래하다' (to cause/result in).

회원 탈퇴율을 낮추기 위한 마케팅 전략이 시급합니다.

A marketing strategy to lower the membership withdrawal rate is urgent.

'탈퇴율' (withdrawal rate) and '시급하다' (to be urgent).

그는 탈퇴를 빌미로 조직에 무리한 요구를 해왔습니다.

He has been making unreasonable demands on the organization using withdrawal as an excuse.

~를 빌미로 (using... as a pretext/excuse).

탈퇴가 정당한 권리 행사인지에 대한 논란이 일고 있습니다.

A controversy is arising over whether the withdrawal is a legitimate exercise of rights.

-인지에 대한 (about whether...).

국가 간의 동맹에서 탈퇴하는 행위는 지정학적 지형도를 근본적으로 변화시킵니다.

The act of withdrawing from an alliance between nations fundamentally changes the geopolitical landscape.

High-level vocabulary: 지정학적 (geopolitical), 지형도 (landscape/topography).

그 철학자는 사회적 계약에서의 탈퇴가 인간 본연의 자유를 회복하는 길이라 주장했습니다.

The philosopher argued that withdrawing from the social contract is the way to restore human's inherent freedom.

Philosophical context: 사회적 계약 (social contract).

탈퇴의 정당성은 그 과정의 투명성과 절차적 정당성에 의해 담보되어야 합니다.

The legitimacy of withdrawal must be guaranteed by the transparency of the process and procedural justice.

'담보되다' (to be guaranteed/secured).

그는 조직에서의 탈퇴를 '실존적 결단'으로 묘사하며 자신의 행위를 정당화했습니다.

He justified his actions by describing the withdrawal from the organization as an 'existential decision.'

'실존적 결단' (existential decision).

탈퇴 이후의 공백을 메우기 위한 후속 조치가 미흡하여 큰 혼란이 빚어졌습니다.

The lack of follow-up measures to fill the vacuum after the withdrawal caused great confusion.

'공백을 메우다' (fill a vacuum) and '빚어지다' (to be caused/created).

탈퇴는 단순한 단절이 아니라 새로운 관계 맺기를 위한 전제 조건이 될 수 있습니다.

Withdrawal is not just a severance, but can be a prerequisite for building new relationships.

'단절' (severance) and '전제 조건' (prerequisite).

그는 탈퇴를 선언함으로써 기존의 기득권 체제에 정면으로 도전했습니다.

By announcing his withdrawal, he directly challenged the existing establishment.

-(으)로써 (by means of) and '기득권 체제' (establishment/vested interests).

탈퇴가 가져올 파급 효과를 면밀히 분석한 보고서가 제출되었습니다.

A report was submitted that closely analyzed the ripple effects that the withdrawal would bring.

'파급 효과' (ripple effect) and '면밀히' (closely/thoroughly).

Common Collocations

회원 탈퇴

카페 탈퇴

동아리 탈퇴

정당 탈퇴

조직 탈퇴

탈퇴 절차

탈퇴 사유

일방적 탈퇴

그룹 탈퇴

탈퇴 신청

Common Phrases

탈퇴를 결심하다

— To decide to withdraw from a group.

그는 오랜 고민 끝에 탈퇴를 결심했다.

탈퇴를 선언하다

— To officially announce one's withdrawal.

그는 기자회견에서 탈퇴를 선언했다.

탈퇴를 강요하다

— To force someone to withdraw.

상사가 그에게 탈퇴를 강요했다.

탈퇴를 번복하다

— To reverse or take back a decision to withdraw.

그는 마음을 바꿔 탈퇴를 번복했다.

탈퇴를 처리하다

— To process a withdrawal request.

상담원이 탈퇴를 처리해 주었습니다.

탈퇴가 완료되다

— For a withdrawal to be finished/completed.

회원 탈퇴가 정상적으로 완료되었습니다.

탈퇴를 막다

— To prevent someone from withdrawing.

회사는 회원들의 탈퇴를 막기 위해 노력했다.

탈퇴를 후회하다

— To regret withdrawing.

그는 홧김에 탈퇴한 것을 후회했다.

탈퇴를 요청하다

— To request a withdrawal.

고객센터에 탈퇴를 요청했습니다.

탈퇴를 유도하다

— To induce or encourage withdrawal.

이벤트가 끝나자 회원 탈퇴를 유도하는 정책이 나왔다.

Often Confused With

탈퇴하다 vs 로그아웃 (Logout)

Logout is temporary; 탈퇴 is permanent account deletion.

탈퇴하다 vs 취소 (Cancel)

Cancel is for orders/reservations; 탈퇴 is for memberships.

탈퇴하다 vs 퇴사 (Resign)

Resign is for jobs; 탈퇴 is for groups/clubs.

Idioms & Expressions

"발을 빼다"

— To withdraw one's feet; to wash one's hands of something or quit a situation.

그는 그 사업에서 발을 뺐다.

Informal/Idiomatic

"손을 떼다"

— To take one's hands off; to stop being involved in something.

나는 이제 그 일에서 손을 뗐어.

Informal/Idiomatic

"등을 돌리다"

— To turn one's back; to betray or leave a group/person.

그는 오랜 친구들에게 등을 돌리고 탈퇴했다.

Idiomatic

"적을 옮기다"

— To move one's registration; to change one's affiliation from one group to another.

그는 다른 정당으로 적을 옮겼다.

Formal

"작별을 고하다"

— To say farewell; to formally leave a group or place.

그는 정든 팀에 작별을 고하고 탈퇴했다.

Literary

"배에서 내리다"

— To get off the boat; to leave a shared project or team.

우리는 같은 배를 탔지만 그는 먼저 내렸다.

Metaphorical

"꼬리를 자르다"

— To cut off the tail; to sever ties with a subordinate to avoid responsibility (often involves forced withdrawal).

조직은 꼬리 자르기 식으로 그를 탈퇴시켰다.

Cynical/Political

"울타리를 나가다"

— To go out of the fence; to leave the protection of a group.

그는 회사의 울타리를 나가기로 했다.

Metaphorical

"짐을 싸다"

— To pack one's bags; to prepare to leave a group or job.

그는 탈퇴를 위해 짐을 쌌다.

Informal

"문을 나서다"

— To step out the door; to leave an institution for the last time.

그는 마지막 인사를 하고 문을 나섰다.

Literary

Easily Confused

탈퇴하다 vs 탈락하다

Sounds similar.

탈퇴 is leaving a group you are in; 탈락 is failing to get into a group or being eliminated.

오디션에서 탈락했어요 (I failed the audition).

탈퇴하다 vs 자퇴하다

Both involve leaving.

자퇴 is specifically for dropping out of school.

그는 고등학교를 자퇴했다.

탈퇴하다 vs 은퇴하다

Both involve leaving.

은퇴 is retiring from a career permanently.

운동선수가 은퇴를 발표했다.

탈퇴하다 vs 퇴학하다

Similar '퇴' sound.

퇴학 is being expelled from school (passive: 퇴학당하다).

그는 사고를 쳐서 퇴학당했다.

탈퇴하다 vs 탈당하다

Specific type of withdrawal.

탈당 is only for political parties.

그는 당을 탈당했다.

Sentence Patterns

N + 탈퇴해요

카페 탈퇴해요.

N + 에서 탈퇴하다

동아리에서 탈퇴했어요.

V-기 전에 탈퇴하다

이사하기 전에 탈퇴하세요.

N + 를 탈퇴하기로 하다

정당을 탈퇴하기로 했어요.

N + 로 인해 탈퇴하다

갈등으로 인해 탈퇴했습니다.

N + 탈퇴를 선언하다

그는 전격 탈퇴를 선언했다.

N + 에서의 탈퇴

유럽연합에서의 탈퇴는 복잡하다.

N + 을/를 기점으로 탈퇴하다

사건을 기점으로 탈퇴를 결행했다.

Word Family

Nouns

탈퇴 (withdrawal)

탈퇴자 (person who withdrew)

탈퇴서 (withdrawal form)

탈퇴율 (withdrawal rate)

Verbs

탈퇴시키다 (to force someone to withdraw)

탈퇴당하다 (to be forced to withdraw)

가입 (joining)

회원 (member)

조직 (organization)

정당 (political party)

계약 (contract)

How to Use It

frequency

High, especially in digital contexts.

Common Mistakes

회사를 탈퇴했어요. → 회사를 퇴사했어요.
You leave a company by resigning (퇴사), not by membership withdrawal (탈퇴).
예약을 탈퇴하고 싶어요. → 예약을 취소하고 싶어요.
Reservations are cancelled (취소), not withdrawn (탈퇴).
학교를 탈퇴했어요. → 학교를 자퇴했어요.
Leaving school permanently is '자퇴' (dropping out).
잠깐 탈퇴할게요. → 잠깐 로그아웃할게요.
If you are coming back later, use 'logout', not 'withdraw'.
시험에서 탈퇴했어요. → 시험에서 탈락했어요.
If you failed or were eliminated, use '탈락'.

Tips

Find the Button

On Korean websites, look for '마이페이지' (My Page) then '회원 탈퇴' if you want to delete your account.

Noun vs Verb

탈퇴 is the noun. 탈퇴하다 is the verb. Both are used frequently.

Politeness

If leaving a social group, it's polite to give a reason (탈퇴 사유) before doing so.

App Deletion

Deleting an app from your phone is NOT '탈퇴'. You must '탈퇴' within the app settings first.

Particles

Use '에서' to sound more natural when leaving a physical or social organization.

Data Loss

Always check for '적립금' (points) before you '탈퇴' because they will be gone.

Group Chats

Leaving a KakaoTalk group is '채팅방 나가기', but many call it '탈퇴' in a humorous way.

Associations

Use '탈회' for professional societies to sound more academic/formal.

Hanja Power

Remember 脫 (탈 - escape). It helps you learn other words like 탈출 (escape).

Listen to News

K-pop news is the best place to hear this word used in real-life drama.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Tall' person trying to fit into a 'Toe' shoe. They have to 'Withdraw' their foot because it doesn't fit anymore. Tal-Toe-Hada.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Delete Account' button on a screen with the Korean text '회원 탈퇴' glowing in red.

Word Web

가입 (Join) 회원 (Member) 탈퇴 (Leave) 카페 (Cafe) 아이디 (ID) 비밀번호 (Password) 삭제 (Delete) 취소 (Cancel)

Challenge

Try to find the '탈퇴' button on a Korean website like Naver or Daum without using a translator.

Word Origin

Derived from Sino-Korean characters: 脫 (탈) and 退 (퇴).

Original meaning: 脫 (tal) means 'to strip off' or 'to escape.' 退 (toe) means 'to retreat' or 'to step back.'

Sino-Korean (Hanja)

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word about someone else; it can imply they were kicked out or that there was a conflict.

In English, we say 'delete account' or 'unsubscribe,' but '탈퇴' covers both plus leaving physical groups like clubs.

The 'Brexit' news in Korea always used the word 'EU 탈퇴'. Jessica's '탈퇴' from Girls' Generation was one of the biggest K-pop news stories. The movie 'The Godfather' involves '탈퇴' from the mafia, which is portrayed as impossible.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Online Shopping

회원 탈퇴 버튼
탈퇴 시 적립금 소멸
재가입 제한
탈퇴 사유 선택

School Life

동아리 탈퇴서
학회 탈퇴
팀 프로젝트 탈퇴
모임에서 나오다

Politics

탈당 선언
탈퇴 의원
당적 이탈
탈퇴 권고

Social Media

계정 탈퇴
비활성화 vs 탈퇴
단톡방 탈퇴
팔로우 취소

Gaming

길드 탈퇴
클랜 탈퇴
팀 탈퇴
탈퇴 페널티

Conversation Starters

"혹시 그 카페 아직도 회원이에요, 아니면 탈퇴했어요?"

"왜 갑자기 동아리를 탈퇴하려고 해요?"

"사이트 탈퇴하는 방법 아세요? 버튼을 못 찾겠어요."

"개인 정보 때문에 안 쓰는 앱은 다 탈퇴하는 게 좋겠죠?"

"그 가수가 그룹을 탈퇴했다는 소식 들으셨어요?"

Journal Prompts

내가 최근에 탈퇴한 모임이나 사이트가 있다면 그 이유는 무엇인가요?

어떤 조직에서 탈퇴하는 것이 가장 힘들까요? 그 이유는?

디지털 미디어를 줄이기 위해 SNS를 탈퇴해 본 적이 있나요?

누군가 우리 모임에서 탈퇴한다면 나는 어떻게 반응할까요?

탈퇴와 가입 중 무엇이 더 신중해야 한다고 생각하나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It means 'Membership Withdrawal' or deleting your account on a website or app.

No, you should use '퇴사하다' or '그만두다' for leaving a job.

Usually yes, but '탈퇴당하다' means being forced to leave (expelled).

Your personal data, points, and history are usually deleted permanently.

You can say '단톡방 나갈게요' or formally '탈퇴하겠습니다' if it's a large group.

탈퇴 is for membership; 해지 is for terminating a service contract like insurance.

No, for citizenship, use '국적을 포기하다' (give up nationality).

Yes, it is very common in daily digital life and news.

It means 'withdrawal procedure'—the steps you take to leave.

In digital contexts, yes. In social clubs, you might be able to rejoin later.