Translation guide
How to express 'back down' in Japanese: withdrawing from a stance, argument, or confrontation.
To stop insisting on your position or demands, often to avoid conflict.
To retract a statement, accusation, or demand, often under pressure.
Literally 'withdraw one's claim', this is a clear way to say you are taking back what you said.
彼はその発言を引っ込めざるを得なかった。
He had no choice but to back down from his statement.
引き下がる emphasizes the act of stepping back from a confrontation, while 折れる focuses on giving in or compromising. Use 引き下がる when someone refuses to retreat, and 折れる when someone finally agrees to the other's terms.
彼は絶対に引き下がらない。
He absolutely won't back down.
最終的に彼が折れた。
In the end, he backed down.
Do not translate 'back down' literally as 後ろに下がる (to physically step backward). That refers to physical movement, not conceding in an argument.
Literally 'pull back', this is the most direct and common way to say 'back down' in an argument or confrontation.
彼は最後まで引き下がらなかった。
He didn't back down until the very end.
議論で負けそうになっても、彼女は引き下がらなかった。
Even when she was about to lose the argument, she didn't back down.
Literally 'to bend/break', this means to give in or compromise, often used when someone finally backs down after being stubborn.
交渉の末、相手が折れた。
After negotiations, the other party backed down.
彼はなかなか折れなかった。
He wouldn't back down easily.
Means 'to retreat' or 'step back', used in physical or metaphorical confrontations. Slightly formal.
彼は一歩も退かなかった。
He didn't back down an inch.
Casual way to say 'back off' or 'withdraw'. Often used in spoken Japanese.
ここで引くわけにはいかない。
I can't back down now.
Literally 'to sheathe one's spear', a literary expression meaning to cease hostilities or back down from a fight.
両者とも矛を収める気配はなかった。
Neither side showed any sign of backing down.
Formal term for withdrawing a proposal, complaint, or legal claim.
告訴を取り下げることにした。
I decided to back down from the lawsuit.
Formal word for retracting or withdrawing a statement, decision, or demand.
政府はその政策を撤回した。
The government backed down on that policy.