(ゆる)

ゆるす
verb-godan
to pardon; to forgive (sins or crimes)
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present(ゆる)(ゆる)さない
Present polite(ゆる)します(ゆる)しません
Past(ゆる)した(ゆる)さなかった
Past polite(ゆる)しました(ゆる)しませんでした
て form(ゆる)して(ゆる)さなくて
ている present(ゆる)している(ゆる)していない
ている polite(ゆる)しています(ゆる)していません
ている past(ゆる)していた(ゆる)していなかった
ている past polite(ゆる)していました(ゆる)していませんでした
Conditional ば(ゆる)せば(ゆる)さなければ
Conditional たら(ゆる)したら(ゆる)さなかったら
Volitional(ゆる)そう
Volitional polite(ゆる)しましょう
Potential(ゆる)せる(ゆる)せない
Passive(ゆる)される(ゆる)されない
Causative(ゆる)させる(ゆる)させない
Imperative(ゆる)(ゆる)すな
1. to pardon; to forgive; to absolve
To formally forgive sins, crimes, or serious offenses. More solemn and weighty than the general-purpose 許す, often carrying religious, legal, or literary overtones.
(つみ)(ゆる)す。
To forgive sins.
(かみ)がすべての(つみ)(ゆる)してくださる。
God forgives all sins.
死刑囚(しけいしゅう)恩赦(おんしゃ)によって(ゆる)された。
The death row inmate was pardoned through an amnesty.
彼女(かのじょ)(なが)時間(じかん)をかけて、ようやく過去(かこ)自分(じぶん)(ゆる)すことができた。
After a long time, she was finally able to forgive her past self.

A kanji variant of ゆるす that specifically conveys pardon and absolution of sins or serious offenses. While (ゆる)す is the general-purpose word for "to allow, to forgive, to permit," (ゆる)す is reserved for the solemn, weighty act of forgiving wrongdoing.

KANJI DISTINCTION:

  • (ゆる)す: general "to allow, to permit, to forgive" — the default spelling
  • (ゆる)す: specifically "to pardon, to absolve" — used for sins, crimes, and deep personal forgiveness

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (つみ)(ゆる)す: to forgive sins
  • 恩赦(おんしゃ): amnesty, pardon (contains the same kanji)
  • 自分(じぶん)(ゆる)す: to forgive oneself

REGISTER:
Literary, religious, and formal. Common in Christian texts, legal contexts, and literary prose. In everyday conversation, (ゆる)す covers all meanings.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (ゆる)す: to allow, to permit, to forgive (general-purpose, much broader)
  • 容赦(ようしゃ)する: to pardon, to show mercy (formal)
  • (ゆる)す: to exempt, to release from obligation (another kanji variant)

Related Words

Related: ゆるす