免状|めんじょうmenjou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounlicence; license; certificate; permit
2. noundiploma

• Synonym免許証めんきょしょうNeutralThe physical licence issued by the authorities, such as a driver's licence; 「免状」 leans toward certificates for traditional arts or qualifications.
• SynonymライセンスNeutralLoanword for permission or licensing; also used for software and brand licensing; has a modern feel.
• Synonym免許めんきょNeutralA licence or permission; also a master's act of passing the secrets of an art on to a disciple. 「免状」 is the certificate that attests it.
• Synonym免許状めんきょじょうWrittenWritten/formal: an official licence document issued by the authorities; close to 「免状」 but more formal.
• Relatedお墨付きおすみつきNeutralAn endorsement or guarantee from someone authoritative; often figurative in speech, as in 「専門家のお墨付き」.
• Related公認こうにんNeutralOfficial recognition by an authority or organization, as in 「公認記録」; an act of recognition, not a certificate.
• Related認可にんかWrittenWritten/formal: approval granted by a competent authority, as in 「認可保育園」; an act, not a certificate.
• Related鑑札かんさつWrittenWritten/formal: a tag or licence issued by a government office; today mostly a dog tag/licence; now rarely used.
• Related認可証にんかしょうWrittenWritten/formal: a certificate of official approval, tied to administrative licensing; not used for arts qualifications.
• Related許可書きょかしょNeutralA document certifying that permission was granted, as in 「営業許可書」; not used for arts qualifications.
• Related許可証きょかしょうNeutralA permit, as in 「入館許可証」; centers on allowing entry or an activity.
• Related認定証にんていしょうWrittenWritten/formal: a certificate of official certification, such as a grading-exam pass certificate; leans toward qualification certification.
• Related許状きょじょうWrittenWritten/formal: a licence or pardon document; very rarely used, with an old-fashioned flavor.

For driver's licences and similar official licences, use 「免許証」. For certificates in traditional arts like tea ceremony or martial arts, use 「免状」, as in 「師範の免状」. For an authority's endorsement, say 「お墨付き」; for software licensing, 「ライセンス」.

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

1. 赦免しゃめんを示しめす文書ぶんしょ。
2. 免許状めんきょじょう。
3. 卒業証書そつぎょうしょうしょの俗称ぞくしょう。