赦
pardon, forgiveness
Readings
On'yomi
- シャ
Kun'yomi
- ゆる.す
Meaning
赦 centers on releasing someone from blame or punishment: granting pardon or forgiveness.
Most common words using 赦
- 容赦ようしゃN1
pardon; forgiveness; tolerance; overlooking
- 恩赦おんしゃ
amnesty; pardon
- 赦免しゃめん
pardon; remission; amnesty
- 特赦とくしゃ
special pardon; (general) amnesty
- 容赦なくようしゃなく
mercilessly; relentlessly; unsparingly
- 大赦たいしゃ
amnesty; general pardon
- 天赦日てんしゃにち
auspicious day for any activity (according to the traditional calendar)
- 情け容赦なさけようしゃ
mercy
- 情け容赦なくなさけようしゃなく
mercilessly; ruthlessly
- 曲赦きょくしゃ
special pardon to a specific region (in the ritsuryō system); limited amnesty
- 赦しゃ
pardon; amnesty
- 赦免状しゃめんじょう
letter of pardon; pardon
- 赦書しゃしょ
letter of pardon
- 赦状しゃじょう
letter of pardon
Study
Etymology
赦 combines 赤 (red) with 攵 (action hand). The historical origin is uncertain, but it likely relates to the idea of releasing or absolving, possibly through a symbolic act.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 赤 (red) can suggest a flushed face of shame, while the right side 攵 (action hand) represents an authority figure. Picture a ruler's hand granting pardon to a red-faced offender.
Reading mnemonic
For シャ, imagine a shah (a king) granting a pardon: shah -> シャ, and the king's hand 攵 forgives the red-faced 赤 subject.