早退

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zǎotuì: 早退 - To leave early

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: zaotui, zǎotuì, 早退, leave early Chinese, skip school Chinese, leave work early, Chinese for duck out early, what does zaotui mean, Chinese verb for leaving early, chidao vs zaotui
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 早退 (zǎotuì), which means “to leave early” from a scheduled commitment like work, school, or a meeting. This guide explains its cultural nuances, showing why it often carries a more negative connotation than in English. Discover how to use it correctly in various contexts, from asking for permission to leave work to describing a student who feels unwell, with 10 practical example sentences and clear analysis for beginner to intermediate learners.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): zǎotuì
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 4
  • Concise Definition: To leave a place (like an office, classroom, or meeting) before the officially scheduled end time.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of 早退 (zǎotuì) as the direct opposite of being late (迟到, chídào). While being late is about arriving after the start time, 早退 is about leaving before the end time. It implies cutting short a period of time you are obligated to be present for. It's not just “leaving early” in a general sense, but specifically leaving before you're supposed to, which often requires permission or has negative consequences.

Character Breakdown

  • 早 (zǎo): This character means “early” or “morning.” It's a pictograph of the sun (日) above what was originally a representation of a helmet (甲), symbolizing the sun rising early in the day.
  • 退 (tuì): This character means “to retreat,” “to withdraw,” or “to move back.” The radical on the left (辶) is related to walking or movement.
  • Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 早 (early) + 退 (retreat/withdraw) literally means “to retreat early.” This perfectly captures the idea of withdrawing from your duties or presence at a place before the proper time.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese work and school culture, there's a strong emphasis on diligence, collective responsibility, and “face time” (being visibly present). The act of 早退 (zǎotuì) without a valid, approved reason can be seen as a sign of laziness, a lack of commitment to the group (the company or class), or disrespect for authority. It suggests that your personal matters are more important than your obligations.
  • Comparison to Western Culture: In many modern Western workplaces, particularly those with “results-oriented” cultures, leaving early might be acceptable if your tasks are complete. The focus is on output, not hours clocked. In more traditional Chinese environments, however, being physically present until the end of the day is often an unwritten rule. Therefore, 早退 can carry a much stronger negative weight than the English phrase “to leave early,” which can be neutral. An unapproved 早退 can cause someone to lose face (丢面子, diū miànzi) and be viewed as a poor team player.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Formal vs. Informal: The term 早退 is a standard, neutral term in itself, but its connotation depends entirely on the context.
  • Asking for Permission (Neutral): When you need to leave work or class early for a legitimate reason (e.g., a doctor's appointment), you use 早退 to make your request. In this case, it's a formal and appropriate term.
    • `老板，我下午有点不舒服，想早退一会儿，可以吗？` (Lǎobǎn, wǒ xiàwǔ yǒudiǎn bù shūfu, xiǎng zǎotuì yīhuìr, kěyǐ ma?) - Boss, I'm not feeling well this afternoon, I'd like to leave a bit early, is that okay?
  • Describing an Action (Negative): When used to describe someone else leaving without a good reason or without permission, it takes on a negative, gossipy, or critical tone.
    • `他这个月已经早退三次了，老板很不高兴。` (Tā zhège yuè yǐjīng zǎotuì sān cì le, lǎobǎn hěn bù gāoxìng.) - He has already left early three times this month, the boss is very unhappy.
  • School and Work: The term is used almost identically in both school and work environments. It's a fundamental concept related to attendance.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我今天下午要去医院，得早退。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ yào qù yīyuàn, děi zǎotuì.
    • English: I have to go to the hospital this afternoon, so I need to leave early.
    • Analysis: This is a common and neutral way to state the necessity of leaving early from work or school. `得 (děi)` means “must” or “have to.”
  • Example 2:
    • 老师，我头疼，可以早退吗？
    • Pinyin: Lǎoshī, wǒ tóuténg, kěyǐ zǎotuì ma?
    • English: Teacher, I have a headache, may I leave early?
    • Analysis: A classic example of a student politely requesting permission to leave school early.
  • Example 3:
    • 公司规定，无故早退要扣工资。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī guīdìng, wúgù zǎotuì yào kòu gōngzī.
    • English: The company policy states that leaving early without reason will result in a salary deduction.
    • Analysis: Here, `早退` is used in a formal, official context (company rules). `无故 (wúgù)` means “without reason.”
  • Example 4:
    • 你别总迟到早退的，影响不好。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ bié zǒng chídào zǎotuì de, yǐngxiǎng bù hǎo.
    • English: Don't always be arriving late and leaving early; it sets a bad example.
    • Analysis: This sentence pairs `早退` with its opposite, `迟到 (chídào - to be late)`, to describe a person with a poor attitude towards attendance.
  • Example 5:
    • 会议还没结束，他就早退了。
    • Pinyin: Huìyì hái méi jiéshù, tā jiù zǎotuì le.
    • English: The meeting wasn't over yet, but he just left early.
    • Analysis: The word `就 (jiù)` here adds a sense of surprise or disapproval, emphasizing that he left prematurely.
  • Example 6:
    • 为了去接孩子，她向经理申请了早退。
    • Pinyin: Wèile qù jiē háizi, tā xiàng jīnglǐ shēnqǐng le zǎotuì.
    • English: In order to pick up her child, she applied to the manager to leave early.
    • Analysis: This shows the formal process. `申请 (shēnqǐng)` means “to apply for,” making the act of `早退` official and approved.
  • Example 7:
    • 昨天我早退了一个小时去看牙医。
    • Pinyin: Zuótiān wǒ zǎotuì le yí ge xiǎoshí qù kàn yáyī.
    • English: Yesterday I left an hour early to see the dentist.
    • Analysis: This example specifies the duration of the early departure (“an hour”).
  • Example 8:
    • 如果你工作都做完了，偶尔早退几分钟也没关系。
    • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ gōngzuò dōu zuò wán le, ǒu'ěr zǎotuì jǐ fēnzhōng yě méi guānxi.
    • English: If you've finished all your work, it's okay to leave a few minutes early occasionally.
    • Analysis: This shows a more lenient and modern attitude towards `早退`, where it is permissible under certain conditions.
  • Example 9:
    • 他是不是早退了？我怎么找不到他了。
    • Pinyin: Tā shì bu shì zǎotuì le? Wǒ zěnme zhǎo bu dào tā le.
    • English: Did he leave early? How come I can't find him?
    • Analysis: A common question asked in an office or classroom when someone seems to have disappeared before the day is over.
  • Example 10:
    • 很多员工为了避开晚高峰，都会选择早退。
    • Pinyin: Hěn duō yuángōng wèile bìkāi wǎn gāofēng, dōu huì xuǎnzé zǎotuì.
    • English: Many employees choose to leave early in order to avoid the evening rush hour.
    • Analysis: This describes a collective behavior, presenting `早退` as a practical choice rather than a disciplinary issue.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The Biggest Mistake: Using `早退` for “Leaving Early” in General.
    • English speakers often confuse `早退` with the general idea of leaving a place early. `早退` is only used when you are leaving a place where you have an obligation to stay until a specific time.
    • Incorrect: Let's leave the party early. (If you just decide to leave a friend's party).
      • `我们早退派对吧。` (Wǒmen zǎotuì pàiduì ba.) ←- WRONG. A party doesn't usually have a mandatory end time.
    • Correct: Let's leave the party a bit earlier.
      • `我们早点儿离开派对吧。` (Wǒmen zǎodiǎnr líkāi pàiduì ba.)
    • When is it correct for a party? You could use `早退` if it's a formal company dinner or event with a set schedule that you are expected to attend fully. Leaving that would be `早退`.
  • Key takeaway: If there's no official schedule or obligation, use `早点走 (zǎodiǎn zǒu)` or `早点离开 (zǎodiǎn líkāi)`. If you are ducking out of work, school, or a mandatory meeting, use `早退 (zǎotuì)`.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 迟到 (chídào) - The direct antonym of `早退`. It means “to arrive late.”
  • 请假 (qǐngjià) - To ask for leave/time off. This is the proper procedure to get permission for an absence, which could include a `早退`.
  • 旷工 (kuànggōng) - To be absent from work without leave. This is much more serious than `早退`.
  • 旷课 (kuàngkè) - To be absent from class without leave; to skip class. The school equivalent of `旷工`.
  • 加班 (jiābān) - A related opposite concept: to work overtime.
  • 打卡 (dǎkǎ) - To clock in/out. The `打卡` system is often used to track `迟到` and `早退`.
  • 翘班 (qiàobān) - A colloquial/slang term for skipping work; similar to playing hooky from work. More informal than `旷工`.
  • 翘课 (qiàokè) - A colloquial/slang term for skipping class. More informal than `旷课`.