The Meaning of menjo [免除] In Japanese

免除
めんじょ
Romaji: menjo N3

What does 免除 mean?

Translation and Meaning

exemption, dispensation, relief from obligation

Definition

免除 refers to an official or formal exemption from a requirement, duty, or payment, granting relief from an obligation and removing the need to comply.

Type

noun (名詞), can function as a suru-verb: 免除する

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Tax or fee waivers and exemption from payment (zeikin/ryōkin no menjo)
  • Relief from duties, obligations, or requirements in legal, administrative, or organizational contexts
  • General dispensation granted by an authority, including academic or policy-related waivers

Composition

  • 免 — to exempt, spare; related to relief from burden
  • 除 — to remove, eliminate; related to taking away a burden or obligation
免除 combines the ideas of relief (免) and removal (除) to express the act of being relieved from a duty or payment.

Usage

Used in formal and semi-formal Japanese to denote waivers; commonly occurs in tax forms, school or government guidelines, and benefit applications; often paired with する to form 免除する; examples include 税の免除, 授業料の免除, 免除を受ける.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a seal stamping ‘免除’ on a heavy burden, magically removing it from your shoulders; the two kanji together symbolize relief by removal.

Variations

  • 減免 (げんめん, genmen) — reduction or exemption
  • 免除 (めんじょ, menjo) — same concept with slight nuance in usage
  • 課す/徴収 (かす, kasu; ちょうしゅう, chōshū) — opposite actions: impose or collect

Example Phrases

  • 彼は 免除 の 申請 を 学校へ 提出した
    kare wa menjo no shinsei o gakkou e teishutsu shita
    He submitted an application for exemption to the school.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 免除 (menjo) – exemption
    • の (no) – of
    • 申請 (shinsei) – application
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 学校へ (gakkou e) – to the school
    • 提出した (teishutsu shita) – submitted
    Here, 「免除」 is a noun meaning exemption; it combines with の to form 「免除の申請」, meaning ‘an application for exemption’.
免除