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道Nihongo Path
免

免·exempt, license

On-yomi
メン
Kun-yomi
まぬか(れる)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

8 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
免許めんきょlicense, permit
免除めんじょexemption, waiver
免税めんぜいtax exemption, duty-free
免れるまぬかれるto escape, to avoid (something bad)

Example sentences

  1. 去年、運転免許を取った。

    きょねん、うんてんめんきょをとった。

    I got my driver's license last year.

  2. 成績が良かったので学費が免除された。

    せいせきがよかったのでがくひがめんじょされた。

    My tuition was waived because of my good grades.

  3. 運よく最悪の事態は免れた。

    うんよくさいあくのじたいはまぬかれた。

    Luckily we escaped the worst outcome.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

  • 免兎兎 (うさぎ, rabbit) looks almost identical but keeps the extra dot on the right; 免 has no dot — the rabbit that got away.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 免れる as めんれる — it is まぬかれる (also まぬがれる)
  • Adding the dot of 兎 when writing 免

Memory aid

Picture it

A rabbit (兎) with its tail-dot missing — it slipped out of the trap and got off free.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 免 mean?