How to say "forgiveness" in Japanese

• 勘弁かんべんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbNot the general word for forgiveness: it means sparing someone or letting them off, typically when pleading to be spared or go easy. Seldom the word you want for forgiveness itself.
  同おなじことを何回なんかい繰り返くりかえすの。屋上おくじょう屋やを架かすようなくどい説明せつめいは勘弁かんべんしてよ。↗

  You're wasting your time with all this needless repetition, so spare us the long-winded explanation.
• 容赦ようしゃCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers forgiveness as leniency or mercy — sparing someone a penalty or overlooking a fault. Typical of pleas for leniency, or of treatment that shows no mercy.
  今いま言いったことをどうかご容赦ようしゃください。↗

  Please accept my apologies for what I said just now.
• 許しゆるしCommon
  nounThe general noun for forgiveness: pardoning a person for a wrongdoing, fault or sin, and by extension granting permission or exemption. This is the word for forgiveness in the moral, personal sense.
  失礼しつれいをお許ゆるし下ください。↗

  Please excuse me for being rude.

Use 「許し」 for forgiveness in the moral sense of pardoning a wrongdoing; 容赦 for leniency or mercy shown toward someone's fault; 勘弁 is really about sparing or letting someone off, seldom the word for forgiveness itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 勘弁かんべんpardon
• 容赦ようしゃpardon
• 許しゆるしpardon
• 海容かいようforgiveness
• 宥恕ゆうじょforgiveness
• 寛恕かんじょmagnanimity
• 海恕かいじょmagnanimity
• 了見りょうけんforgiveness
• 堪忍かんにんforgiveness