引退を決めました
十年間本当にありがとう
私のことを忘れないでね
Introduction to Farewell and Gratitude Expressions
Today we’re learning emotional expressions used in farewells, particularly retirement announcements or departure speeches. These phrases are common in Japanese public statements, whether from celebrities, athletes, or professionals leaving their positions. For JLPT N4-N3 students, understanding patterns like を決める (to decide), 間 duration counter, and のこと (about/regarding someone) is essential for both formal and emotional communication.
First Expression: 引退を決めました
Word Breakdown
引退 (いんたい) – retirement, withdrawal, stepping down
を – object particle
決めました (きめました) – decided (polite past tense of 決める)
Translation
Translation: I have decided to retire / I’ve decided to step down / I’ve made the decision to retire
Understanding 引退 (Retirement/Withdrawal)
引退 specifically means retiring or withdrawing from active participation in something, typically used for athletes, entertainers, politicians, or professionals leaving their field. It’s different from general retirement due to age.
Different types of “retirement” in Japanese:
引退 (いんたい):
Retiring from active competition/performance
Used by athletes, entertainers, professionals
Often happens before standard retirement age
Implies leaving a specific field or role
退職 (たいしょく):
Leaving a job, resignation
General term for leaving employment
Used for regular company employees
定年退職 (ていねんたいしょく):
Mandatory retirement (usually at age 60-65)
Retirement due to reaching retirement age
リタイア:
Retirement (loanword from English)
More casual, general use
Who Uses 引退?
Common contexts for 引退:
Athletes:
プロ野球選手が引退を発表した
A professional baseball player announced retirement
Entertainers/Idols:
アイドルが芸能界から引退する
An idol is retiring from the entertainment industry
Politicians:
政治家が政界から引退する
A politician is retiring from politics
Professionals:
現役を引退する
To retire from active service
Grammar Point: を決める (To Decide)
決める (きめる) means “to decide” or “to determine.” The pattern [Noun] + を決める means “to decide on [noun]” or “to make a decision about [noun].”
を決める pattern examples:
予定を決める – To decide the schedule
日時を決める – To decide the date and time
場所を決める – To decide the location
進路を決める – To decide one’s path/future
結婚を決める – To decide to get married
引退を決める – To decide to retire
メニューを決める – To decide on the menu
目標を決める – To decide on a goal
Why Use Past Tense 決めました?
Using the past tense 決めました (decided) rather than present tense 決めます (will decide) indicates that the decision has already been made. This is the standard way to announce decisions in Japanese – the decision process is complete, and now you’re informing others.
Announcement pattern:
When making formal announcements about decisions, Japanese typically uses:
～を決めました (I have decided…)
～することにしました (I have decided to…)
Not:
～を決めます (I will decide…)
The past tense shows the decision is final and you’re now sharing it, not still in the process of deciding.
Related Decision-Making Expressions
Similar announcement patterns:
引退することにしました – I have decided to retire
(using ～ことにする pattern)
引退を決意しました – I have resolved to retire
(more formal, emphasizes determination)
引退を発表しました – I have announced my retirement
(focusing on the announcement itself)
引退させていただきます – I will retire (humble form)
(very polite, often used in formal speeches)
Complete Retirement Announcement Pattern
Formal retirement announcement structure:
皆様へ
この度、引退を決めました。長年応援してくださり、本当にありがとうございました。これからも別の形で頑張っていきます。今後ともよろしくお願いいたします。
To Everyone,
I have decided to retire at this time. Thank you very much for supporting me for many years. I will continue to work hard in a different capacity. I ask for your continued support.
Second Expression: 十年間本当にありがとう
Word Breakdown
十年間 (じゅうねんかん) – ten years, for ten years
本当に (ほんとうに) – truly, really
ありがとう – thank you
Translation
Translation: Thank you so much for the ten years / Truly thank you for ten years / Thank you for these ten years
Grammar Point: 間 (かん) Duration Counter
間 (かん) is a suffix added to time periods to emphasize duration – the span or length of time something lasted. It can be attached to various time units.
Understanding 間 for duration:
The pattern: [Time period] + 間
一年間 (いちねんかん) – for one year
二ヶ月間 (にかげつかん) – for two months
三週間 (さんしゅうかん) – for three weeks
四日間 (よっかかん) – for four days
五時間 (ごじかん) – for five hours
十年間 (じゅうねんかん) – for ten years
Note: 間 emphasizes the duration. Without it (十年), it simply means “ten years” as a general concept. With it (十年間), it specifically means “during/throughout those ten years” or “for the span of ten years.”
With vs Without 間
Comparing usage:
Without 間:
十年前 – Ten years ago (point in time)
十年後 – Ten years later (point in time)
十年 – Ten years (general period)
With 間:
十年間 – For ten years (emphasis on duration)
十年間続けた – Continued for ten years
十年間働いた – Worked for ten years
The 間 emphasizes that something continued throughout that period.
Understanding 本当に (Truly, Really)
本当に is an adverb meaning “truly,” “really,” or “genuinely.” In gratitude expressions, it emphasizes the sincerity and depth of your thanks.
本当に usage:
本当にありがとう – Thank you so much / I really thank you
本当にすみません – I’m truly sorry
本当に嬉しい – I’m really happy
本当ですか? – Really? / Is that true?
本当に大丈夫? – Are you really okay?
Casual form: ほんとに or ほんと
ほんとにありがとう – Thanks so much (casual)
Levels of Gratitude: ありがとう
Expressing thanks in Japanese:
Most casual:
ありがと – Thanks (very casual, young people)
どうも – Thanks (casual, brief)
Standard casual:
ありがとう – Thank you
ありがとうね – Thank you (softer)
Polite:
ありがとうございます – Thank you (polite present)
ありがとうございました – Thank you (polite past, for completed action)
Very formal:
誠にありがとうございます – Thank you very much indeed
心より感謝申し上げます – I express my heartfelt gratitude
Why Casual ありがとう in Farewell?
In emotional farewell messages, even public figures often use casual ありがとう rather than formal ありがとうございました. This creates intimacy and emotional connection with the audience, making the thanks feel personal and heartfelt rather than formal and distant.
Context matters for formality:
In official documents:
十年間、誠にありがとうございました
(Very formal, written)
In emotional speeches:
十年間、本当にありがとう
(Casual but heartfelt, creates connection)
In fan messages:
十年間ありがとうございました
(Polite but warm)
Similar Gratitude Expressions
Expressing gratitude for duration:
長い間ありがとうございました – Thank you for a long time
今までありがとう – Thank you until now
ずっと応援してくれてありがとう – Thank you for always supporting me
たくさんの思い出をありがとう – Thank you for so many memories
素晴らしい時間をありがとう – Thank you for the wonderful time
Third Expression: 私のことを忘れないでね
Word Breakdown
私 (わたし) – I, me
のこと – about, regarding
を – object particle
忘れないで (わすれないで) – don’t forget
ね – particle (seeking agreement/confirmation)
Translation
Translation: Don’t forget about me, okay? / Please don’t forget me / Remember me, will you?
Grammar Point: のこと (About, Regarding)
のこと is used after nouns (especially people) to mean “about [person/thing]” or “regarding [person/thing].” When talking about people, it often adds emotional nuance.
Understanding のこと:
Pattern: [Noun] + のこと
Without のこと: 私を忘れないで – Don’t forget me
With のこと: 私のことを忘れないで – Don’t forget about me
The のこと adds:
Emphasis on the whole person, not just their name
Emotional depth and personal connection
Reference to memories, experiences, relationship
“Me as a person,” “everything about me”
It’s particularly common with verbs like:
忘れる (forget), 覚えている (remember), 知る (know), 思う (think), 好き (like), 嫌い (dislike)
のこと Usage Examples
Common patterns with のこと:
彼女のことを考えている – Thinking about her
彼のことを知っている? – Do you know about him?
あなたのことを愛してる – I love you (as a person)
子供のことを心配する – Worry about the child
先生のことを尊敬している – I respect the teacher
友達のことを思い出す – Remember/recall my friend
親のことを大切にする – Cherish one’s parents
Why Use のこと Here?
In 私のことを忘れないで, the のこと makes the request more emotional and comprehensive. It’s not just “don’t forget my name” but “don’t forget me as a person, our time together, our memories, everything we shared.”
Grammar Point: Review of ないで (Negative Request)
As we learned in Episode 1159, ないで is the negative request form meaning “please don’t do” or “don’t do.”
ないで pattern:
忘れる → 忘れないで – Don’t forget
行く → 行かないで – Don’t go
泣く → 泣かないで – Don’t cry
諦める → 諦めないで – Don’t give up
変わる → 変わらないで – Don’t change
一人にする → 一人にしないで – Don’t leave me alone
The ね Particle for Emotional Appeal
The ね at the end adds emotional appeal and seeks gentle agreement or confirmation. It makes the request softer, more personal, and slightly pleading.
Effect of ね:
忘れないで – Don’t forget (neutral request)
忘れないでね – Don’t forget, okay? (softer, seeking agreement)
忘れないでください – Please don’t forget (more formal)
忘れないでくださいね – Please don’t forget, okay? (formal + soft)
The ね adds:
Intimacy and warmth
“You understand, right?”
Gentle pleading
Emotional connection
Common Farewell Requests
Typical farewell expressions:
私のことを忘れないでね – Don’t forget about me, okay?
元気でいてね – Stay healthy/well, okay?
また会おうね – Let’s meet again, okay?
時々連絡してね – Contact me sometimes, okay?
幸せになってね – Be happy, okay?
夢を諦めないでね – Don’t give up on your dreams, okay?
自分を大切にしてね – Take care of yourself, okay?
Putting It All Together: Complete Farewell Message
Idol/Celebrity Retirement Announcement
Typical structure:
ファンの皆様へ
突然ですが、この度、引退を決めました。
デビューしてから十年間、本当にありがとうございました。皆さんの応援があったからこそ、ここまで来ることができました。
これからは新しい道を歩んでいきますが、私のことを忘れないでね。いつまでも、心の中にいさせてください。
本当に本当にありがとうございました。
To All My Fans,
This is sudden, but I have decided to retire at this time.
Thank you so much for the ten years since my debut. It was because of your support that I was able to come this far.
From now on I will walk a new path, but please don’t forget about me. Please let me stay in your hearts forever.
Thank you, truly thank you so much.
Athlete Retirement Speech
Sports context:
サポーターの皆さん、チームの皆、関係者の皆様
このたび、現役引退を決めました。
二十年間、プロサッカー選手として戦ってきました。十年間このチームで過ごせたことは、人生の宝物です。本当にありがとう。
引退しても、サッカーへの愛は変わりません。私のことを忘れないでね。これからも別の形でサッカーに関わっていきます。
長い間、応援ありがとうございました!
To all supporters, team members, and everyone involved,
I have decided to retire from active play at this time.
I fought as a professional soccer player for twenty years. The ten years I spent with this team are a treasure of my life. Thank you so much.
Even after retiring, my love for soccer won’t change. Don’t forget about me, okay? I’ll continue to be involved with soccer in a different way.
Thank you for your support for so long!
Related Vocabulary and Expressions
Career-Related Terms
現役 (げんえき) – Active service, active player
引退式 (いんたいしき) – Retirement ceremony
引退会見 (いんたいかいけん) – Retirement press conference
最終試合 (さいしゅうしあい) – Final match
ラストステージ – Last stage/performance
卒業 (そつぎょう) – Graduation (also used for leaving groups)
第二の人生 (だいにのじんせい) – Second life, new chapter
Gratitude Expressions for Long-term Relationships
お世話になりました – Thank you for your care/help
支えてくれてありがとう – Thank you for supporting me
いつも応援ありがとう – Thank you for always supporting me
共に過ごせて幸せでした – I was happy to spend time together
素晴らしい思い出をくれてありがとう – Thank you for wonderful memories
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Add 間 to time periods
1. 五年 → ＿＿＿＿ (for five years)
2. 三ヶ月 → ＿＿＿＿ (for three months)
3. 一週間 → ＿＿＿＿ (for one week)
Exercise 2: Create のこと sentences
1. Don’t forget about him: ＿＿＿＿＿＿
2. I’m thinking about you: ＿＿＿＿＿＿
3. Do you know about her?: ＿＿＿＿＿＿
Exercise 3: Write a farewell message
Create a short farewell message using:
を決めました (decided)
～年間ありがとう (thank you for ~ years)
忘れないでね (don’t forget me)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Confusing 引退 with 退職
引退 – Retirement from active work in a field (athletes, entertainers)
退職 – Leaving employment, resignation (general workers)
Use the appropriate term for the context
Mistake 2: Forgetting のこと with people
Less natural: 彼女を覚えている
More natural: 彼女のことを覚えている
When talking about people emotionally, のこと is usually better
Mistake 3: Using wrong particle with 間
Wrong: 十年間に働いた
Correct: 十年間働いた (no particle needed after 間)
OR: 十年間の間に (if using both 間)
Mistake 4: Using polite form inconsistently
In emotional messages, maintain consistent formality:
Either: 決めました…ありがとうございました…忘れないでください
Or: 決めました…ありがとう…忘れないでね
Don’t mix randomly
Key Takeaways for JLPT Students
を決める pattern is essential N4 grammar for expressing decisions. It’s commonly used in announcements and life choices.
間 duration counter is important N4-N3 grammar that emphasizes the span of time something lasted. Understanding when to use it vs. when to omit it is key.
のこと is crucial for natural Japanese, especially when talking about people and emotions. This small addition makes your Japanese sound much more natural and native-like.
Farewell expressions like these reveal important aspects of Japanese communication – the emphasis on gratitude, the emotional directness possible even in formal contexts, and the importance of maintaining connections.
Cultural Context
Japanese Farewell Culture:
Farewell messages in Japanese culture are deeply ritualized and emotional:
Gratitude Focus: Japanese farewells emphasize thanking others rather than celebrating one’s own achievements. The phrase ありがとう appears multiple times in most retirement speeches.
Humility: Even successful people use humble language and credit others for their success (皆さんのおかげで – thanks to everyone).
Relationship Continuity: 忘れないでね reflects the Japanese value of maintaining relationships even after physical separation. Connections are seen as permanent, not temporary.
Emotional Directness: Interestingly, in farewell contexts, Japanese allows direct emotional expression (本当にありがとう、忘れないでね) that might be avoided in other situations. Farewells are one of the few times when emotional directness is not just acceptable but expected.
Wrap-up
Today we explored three powerful expressions used in Japanese farewells and retirement announcements. From the formal 引退を決めました announcing a major life decision, to the heartfelt 十年間本当にありがとう expressing deep gratitude for shared time, to the emotional 私のことを忘れないでね requesting to be remembered – these phrases reveal both linguistic patterns and cultural values.
We learned important grammar including the を決める decision pattern, the 間 duration counter that emphasizes time spans, and the のこと construction that adds emotional depth when talking about people. We also reviewed the ないで negative request form and saw how particles like ね add warmth and emotional connection.
These expressions demonstrate that Japanese farewell culture emphasizes gratitude, humility, and the continuation of relationships even across physical separation. The language provides specific tools – like のこと and 間 – to express these values naturally.
Whether you’re watching a celebrity retirement announcement, reading a farewell letter, or preparing your own goodbye message in Japanese, understanding these expressions and their emotional weight is essential. They’re not just words – they’re cultural rituals that honor relationships and express the difficulty and meaning of parting.
Practice these expressions, and remember that in Japanese, how you say goodbye is as important as how you say hello. A well-crafted farewell shows respect, gratitude