The Meaning of kanben [勘弁] In Japanese

勘弁
かんべん
Romaji: kanben N5

What does 勘弁 mean?

Translation and Meaning

pardon, mercy, leniency, give me a break

Definition

勘弁 means a plea for mercy or leniency; it describes asking someone to spare you from an obligation, burden, or trouble by showing clemency rather than insisting on the issue.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Mercy or leniency in a request to spare someone from trouble
  • A plea to be excused from an obligation or to be pardoned for a misstep
  • A casual expression meaning ‘give me a break’ in informal speech
  • In formal contexts, ご勘弁ください expresses a polite request for mercy

Etymology

Borrowed from Chinese through Sino-Japanese usage; the two kanji are read with on’yomi as kanben, forming a compound that has long carried the notion of perceiving a need to restrain or forgive.

Origin

Origin: Sino-Japanese compound introduced via kanbun and Chinese influence; usage appears in Japanese from classical to modern times.

Composition

  • 勘: perception, intuition
  • 弁: speech, discretion
  • Together they form a compound meaning to plead for leniency or pardon

Usage

Used as a noun; in speech it appears in phrases with してくれ or ください to request mercy; casual, polite forms vary: 勘弁して, 勘弁してくれ, ご勘弁ください; common in everyday conversation, less common in formal writing.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: think ‘kan-ben’ as ‘can bend’—you bend the rules by appealing for mercy in the moment.

Variations

  • ご勘弁ください — formal, romaji gokanben kudasai
  • 勘弁して — casual, romaji kanben shite
  • 勘弁してくれ — casual request to someone familiar, romaji kanben shite kure
  • Synonyms: 許してください — romaji yurushite kudasai

Example Phrases

  • 今日は 提出 が 遅れた ので、 勘弁して ください。
    Kyou wa teishutsu ga okureta node, kanben shite kudasai.
    Today the submission was delayed, so please cut me some slack.
    Lista:
    • 今日は (kyou wa) – today
    • 提出 (teishutsu) – submission
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 遅れた (okureta) – was delayed
    • ので (node) – so
    • 勘弁して (kanben shite) – spare me
    • ください。 (kudasai) – please
    Neste contexto, 「勘弁」 significa indulgência; 勘弁して ください é uma forma educada de pedir indulgência, isto é, please spare me.
勘弁