The invention discloses a gob-side entry retaining roof cutting method. The gob-side entry retaining roof cutting method comprises the following steps that S1, the thickness of a direct roof and basicroof of a roadway is calculated according to mine geological data, a drilling track is designed, and a directional drilling machine is used for conducting directional drilling operation according tothe drilling track; S2, one end of a saw line is connected with a drill pipe end head by using a connector at one end of a drilling hole after the drilling hole is opened, and when the drill pipe is pulled out, the drill pipe drives the saw line to penetrate through the drilling hole to complete saw line layout; and S3, assembly of a wire saw machine is completed, the saw line is arranged on the wire saw machine, the wire saw machine drives the saw line to carry out cutting operation to the direct top and the basic top, and after the saw line penetrates through the direct top and the basic top, gob-side entry retaining roof cutting is completed. According to the gob-side entry retaining roof cutting method, the wire saw machine is used for carrying out static cutting operation, thus the stability and safety of an existing structure can be saved to the greatest extent, power of the wire saw machine is high, the cutting ability and the cutting efficiency are improved, at the same time, the labor intensity of the staff is reduced, and convenience is brought to construction operation of the staff.