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Kotomora

赦

pardon, forgiveness

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes11

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

Explore all words using 赦 →

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.