Word
免除
Meaning in Englishexemption, exoneration, discharge
Animated kanji stroke order
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
Related words by kanji and components
N1
控除
koujo
subsidy, deduction
N1
取り除く
torinozoku
to remove, to take away, to set apart
N1
排除
haijo
exclusion, removal, rejection
N1
解除
kaijo
cancellation, release, cancel
N1
除外
jogai
exception, exclusion
N1
免れる
manugareru
to escape from, to be exempted
N2
御免
gomen
declining (something); pardon, sorry
N2
削除
sakujo
elimination, deletion
N2
免税
menzei
tax exemption