Word
Kana: めんじょ Romaji: menjo Level: N1

免除

Meaning in English

exemption, exoneration, discharge

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Word context

What it means

免除 refers to an official or formal exemption from a requirement, duty, or payment, granting relief from an obligation and removing the need to comply.

Main meanings

  • Tax or fee waivers and exemption from payment (zeikin/ryōkin no menjo)
  • Relief from duties, obligations, or requirements in legal, administrative, or organizational contexts
  • General dispensation granted by an authority, including academic or policy-related waivers

How to use it

Used in formal and semi-formal Japanese to denote waivers; commonly occurs in tax forms, school or government guidelines, and benefit applications; often paired with する to form 免除する; examples include 税の免除, 授業料の免除, 免除を受ける.

Variants and close terms

  • 減免 (げんめん, genmen) — reduction or exemption
  • 免除 (めんじょ, menjo) — same concept with slight nuance in usage
  • 課す/徴収 (かす, kasu; ちょうしゅう, chōshū) — opposite actions: impose or collect

Composition

  • 免 — to exempt, spare; related to relief from burden
  • 除 — to remove, eliminate; related to taking away a burden or obligation

Word class

noun (名詞), can function as a suru-verb: 免除する

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