日本明仁天皇于4月30日退位，成为200多年来首位生前退位的天皇。请看来自网络的报道：

Japanese Emperor Akihito stepped down from the throne Tuesday, becoming the country’s first monarch to abdicate in more than 200 years. His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, was inaugurated as the 126th emperor the following day, ushering in the Reiwa era.

报道中的abdicate就是step down from the throne

（退位）的意思，还可以用relinquish the throne表

示。此外，这个词也可以表示“放弃（职责）、失职”。这个词在表示“退位”的时候，简单一个abdicate就可以了，表示“放弃职责、失职”，则需要用abdicate responsibility for something/somebody表示。例如：

He made the choice to abdicate because, as supreme governor of the Church of England, he was not permitted to marry a divorced woman.

他放弃王位是因为身为英国教会的最高领袖，他不能和离婚女子结婚。

Some parents simply abdicate all responsibility for their children.

有些父母对孩子简直是撒手不管。