How to say "pardon" in Japanese

• 勘弁かんべんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPardon here means forbearance: sparing someone, letting them off, going easy rather than pressing a matter. It is not the word for an official or legal pardon of an offense.
  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 verbPardon as leniency: overlooking a fault or sparing someone harsh treatment rather than forgiving a wrong outright. It suits contexts of tolerance, mercy in treatment, or asking to be let off.
  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 word for forgiveness or pardon of a fault or wrongdoing, as when accepting an apology; it also covers exemption and permission. For forgiving someone in daily life, this is the word you want.
  失礼しつれいをお許ゆるし下ください。↗

  Please excuse me for being rude.
• 赦免しゃめんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA legal term for pardon in the official sense: remission of a penalty or sentence for a crime. Use it for formal pardons, not for everyday forgiveness between people.
  その囚人しゅうじんは刑期けいきに服ふくした後あと赦免しゃめんされた。↗

  The convict was pardoned after serving his sentence.
• 恩赦おんしゃCommon
  nounPardon as a formal act of the state: amnesty or clemency granted by the government, typically to many offenders at once. This is the word for the legal institution of amnesty and pardon.
  彼かれらは恩赦おんしゃ法ほうによって許ゆるされるはずだ。↗

  They should be pardoned by the amnesty law.

For everyday forgiveness or pardon of a fault, 「許し」 is the natural choice; 勘弁 and 容赦 express leniency or being let off; 赦免 and 恩赦 are formal legal terms for official pardons and amnesty.

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
• 赦免しゃめんpardon
• 恩赦おんしゃamnesty
• 許容きょようpermission
• 仮借かしゃくpardon
• 赦しゃpardon
• 免罪符めんざいふindulgence (esp. in the Catholic Church)
• 赦免状しゃめんじょうletter of pardon
• 恕するじょするto forgive
• 諒恕りょうじょconsideration (for someone's circumstances)
• 許すゆるすto forgive
• 免罪めんざいindulgence
• こらえるto forgive
• 了見りょうけんforgiveness
• 堪忍かんにんforgiveness
• 許状きょじょう(letter of) pardon