Explore 許 through permission, licenses and forgiveness. Learn each reading in a complete word.

The idea

許 has 11 strokes; use the linked diagram for stroke order. 許す is read ゆるす, while 許可 and 免許 contain the reading きょ. Learn the compounds as whole words.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
許すゆるすI cannot forgive that lie.
許可きょかPlease ask for permission before taking photographs.
免許めんきょMy older brother has a driver’s license.

Examples

  • 先生せんせいは辞書じしょを使つかうことを許ゆるしました。The teacher allowed us to use a dictionary.
  • 写真しゃしんを撮とる前まえに、許可きょかを求もとめてください。Please ask for permission before taking photographs.
  • 兄あには運転うんてん免許めんきょを持もっています。My older brother has a driver’s license.
  • その嘘うそは許ゆるすことができません。I cannot forgive that lie.
  • 申請しんせいは昨日きのう、許可きょかされました。The application was approved yesterday.
  • 許可きょかなくこの部屋へやに入はいることはできません。You cannot enter this room without permission.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

許す can mean allow or forgive, depending on context. 許可 is permission, whereas 免許 is a license or qualification; they are not interchangeable.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 許す in hiragana.

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    ゆるす

    許す is ゆるす. It can mean to forgive, as in forgiving a lie.

  2. Write the reading of 許可 in hiragana.

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    きょか

    許可 is きょか. It means permission, as in asking before taking photographs.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 免＿（めんきょ）［許／話］.

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    許

    許 completes 免許（めんきょ）, a license. The reading きょ belongs to the compound.

Use it today

Write 許 following the diagram. Cover the table, read 許す and 許可, then make a sentence with one of them.