KanjiJLPT N1
Pardon

pardon, forgiveness

Mnemonic

A red seal marks the scroll carried by a ninja serving the emperor. This scroll is an official pardon — the ninja delivers it to the prison, where a condemned man walks free. The red ink glows with imperial authority.
Additional thoughts
Picture a vivid red wax seal on a rolled scroll, a shadowy ninja courier leaping over rooftops, and a prisoner's chains falling away. Red = imperial authority, Ninja = swift secret messenger, Pardon = mercy from above.
Quick recall
A red-sealed scroll delivered by a ninja grants an imperial pardon.

Details

The keyword for 赦 is pardon. This kanji refers to the act of officially forgiving or excusing someone for a crime or offense, releasing them from punishment. It carries a formal, authoritative sense of granting mercy, as in a governmental or royal amnesty. The concept emphasizes the deliberate decision by those in power to absolve guilt and restore someone's standing.
On'yomi
しゃ
Kun'yomi
ゆる.す

Used in vocab