The real meaning of 辞める


I am reading "Ikigai" by H.Garcia and F.Miralles, and I've just read the
following paragraph:

> **There is, in fact, no word in Japanese that means _retire_** in the sense
> of "leaving the workforce for good" as in English. According to Dan
> Buettner, a _National Geographic_ reporter who knows the country well,
> having a purpose in life is so important in Japanese culture that our idea
> of retirement simply doesn't exist there.

Is it true? Isn't 辞める that very word which means the thing?

I see what the authors mean here and agree that staying active is crucial, but
I wonder if you agree that the idea of retirement simply _doesn't exist_.

Thank you!




I think we usually use 「引退{いんたい}する」in this context. 「辞める」 basically means
quitting a job, so it is not limited to retirement. The usage of 「引退する」 is
especially common when considering sports athletes, political leaders, and
executive positions (like VP, CEO etc.), but normally people also 引退 from
their job, in the sense of leaving the workforce.

We also have slang word called 「生涯現役{しょうがいげんえき}」, meaning "being active all
his life". Sometimes it literally means being in the workforce forever, but
most of the time it just means being active, spending a purposeful life,
maintaining a purpose in life, so it is not just limited to being in the
workforce.




I think we usually use 「引退{いんたい}する」in this context. 「辞める」 basically means
quitting a job, so it is not limited to retirement. The usage of 「引退する」 is
especially common when considering sports athletes, political leaders, and
executive positions (like VP, CEO etc.), but normally people also 引退 from
their job, in the sense of leaving the workforce.

We also have slang word called 「生涯現役{しょうがいげんえき}」, meaning "being active all
his life". Sometimes it literally means being in the workforce forever, but
most of the time it just means being active, spending a purposeful life,
maintaining a purpose in life, so it is not just limited to being in the
workforce.

