辝 (cí) - To decline & to resign

辝Tone 2

cí ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

辝 · cí

To decline;

to resign;

to abdicate;

to take leave;

to bid farewell;

to shirk;

to evade.

To declineto resignto abdicate

Usage highlights

Resign from officeBid farewellPolitely declineAbdicate the throneTake leaveShirk responsibility

Synonyms

  • 辞— to decline; to resign (modern standard form)
  • 退— to retreat; to withdraw
  • 让— to yield; to concede

Antonyms

  • 受— to accept; to receive
  • 任— to assume office; to appoint
  • 就— to take up; to assume

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He resigned from his position (辝职).
  • They bid farewell to their friends (辝别).
  • She declined the invitation politely (辝谢).

Collocations

  • Resign from office(辝职)
  • Bid farewell(辝别)
  • Politely decline(辝谢)
  • Abdicate the throne(辝位)
  • Take leave(辝行)
  • Shirk responsibility(辝责)

Idioms

  • Resolutely decline(义不容辝)
  • Politely refuse(婉言相辝)
  • Bid farewell to office(辝官归隐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in formal contexts of resignation or abdication, particularly in imperial settings.
  • Reflects Confucian values of humility and knowing when to step down from power.
  • Often appears in classical literature describing officials leaving their posts.

FAQ