認める vs. 許す: Accepting a Fact or Giving Permission?

Introduction

The Japanese verbs 認める (mitomeru) and 許す (yurusu) can both involve the idea of accepting something.

However, they are not interchangeable.

認める often means accepting something as true, acknowledging a mistake, or recognizing someone’s ability or value.

許す usually means allowing someone to do something or forgiving a mistake or wrongdoing.

Because both words may be translated as “accept” in some situations, Japanese learners often choose the wrong one in vocabulary questions or natural conversation.

In this article, you will learn the difference between 認める and 許す through clear explanations, natural examples, common mistakes, and practical JLPT tips.

The Difference in One Sentence

認める (mitomeru) means to accept something as a fact or recognize its value.

許す (yurusu) means to allow an action or forgive a person’s mistake.

A simple way to remember the difference is:

Use 認める for facts, abilities, value, and responsibility. Use 許す for permission, mistakes, and forgiveness.

What Does 認める Mean?

認める (mitomeru / to acknowledge, recognize, or accept) is used when someone accepts that something is true.

It can also mean recognizing a person’s ability, effort, value, or achievement.

Common combinations include:

• 事実を認める

• to acknowledge a fact

• 間違いを認める

• to admit a mistake

• 責任を認める

• to accept responsibility

• 能力を認める

• to recognize someone’s ability

• 努力を認める

• to acknowledge someone’s effort

認める often suggests that something was previously denied, uncertain, or not openly accepted.

For example, a person may initially deny making a mistake. When that person finally accepts the truth, Japanese uses 間違いを認める.

What Does 許す Mean?

許す (yurusu / to allow or forgive) has two major meanings.

Giving Permission

許す is used when someone allows another person to perform an action.

Common examples include:

• 外出を許す

• to allow someone to go out

• 入場を許す

• to permit entry

• 写真撮影を許す

• to allow photography

• 子どもが一人で出かけることを許す

• to allow a child to go out alone

In these cases, someone has the authority to say whether an action is acceptable.

Forgiving Someone

許す is also used when someone decides not to continue blaming or being angry with another person.

Common examples include:

• 失敗を許す

• to forgive a mistake

• 過ちを許す

• to forgive wrongdoing

• 失礼な発言を許す

• to forgive an offensive remark

• 謝った相手を許す

• to forgive someone who apologized

In this meaning, 許す is closely connected to emotions, personal relationships, and moral judgment.

When Is 認める Commonly Used?

認める is frequently used in situations involving facts, judgment, evaluation, and official recognition.

In daily conversation, it often appears when people talk about mistakes or abilities.

• 自分のミスを認める

• to admit one’s own mistake

• 相手の実力を認める

• to recognize another person’s ability

• 問題があることを認める

• to admit that a problem exists

In business, news reports, legal writing, and formal documents, 認める is often used with responsibility, rights, facts, and social status.

• 会社が責任を認めた。

• The company accepted responsibility.

• 裁判所がその権利を認めた。

• The court recognized that right.

• 政府が問題の存在を認めた。

• The government acknowledged the existence of the problem.

In JLPT reading passages, 認める often indicates that someone accepts a fact or evaluates something positively.

When Is 許す Commonly Used?

許す is commonly used when someone gives permission or forgives another person.

In everyday conversation, it is often used in families, friendships, schools, and workplaces.

• 母が外出を許してくれた。

• My mother allowed me to go out.

• 先生が辞書の使用を許した。

• The teacher allowed the use of dictionaries.

• 今回だけは許してください。

• Please forgive me just this once.

許す can also express a strong negative emotional reaction in the form 許せない.

• あの態度は許せない。

• I cannot forgive that attitude.

• 約束を破ったことをまだ許していない。

• I still have not forgiven them for breaking the promise.

許せない is stronger than simply saying that you disagree. It suggests that you consider the behavior morally or emotionally unacceptable.

認める Can Also Mean “Allow”

An important point is that 認める can sometimes mean “to allow” or “to permit.”

Consider the following examples:

• 会社は社員の副業を認めている。

• The company allows its employees to have side jobs.

• この試験では辞書の使用が認められている。

• The use of dictionaries is permitted in this examination.

• 条件を満たした人にだけ参加を認める。

• Participation is permitted only to people who meet the conditions.

In these examples, 認める refers to formal permission based on a rule, policy, system, or authority.

The difference can be understood as follows:

• 許す: personal, direct, and commonly used in everyday situations
• 認める: formal permission based on rules, policies, or official judgment

For example, when a parent allows a child to go out, 許す is the natural choice.

When a company officially permits employees to have second jobs, 認める is more appropriate.

Examples with 認める

Example 1

彼はようやく自分の間違いを認めた。

He finally admitted his mistake.

Here, 認めた means that he accepted the fact that he had been wrong. It does not mean that he forgave the mistake.

Example 2

監督は彼の努力を認め、試合に出場させた。

The coach recognized his effort and let him play in the match.

The coach evaluated his effort positively. This is recognition, not permission or forgiveness.

Example 3

会社は情報管理に問題があったことを認めた。

The company acknowledged that there had been a problem with its information management.

The company stopped denying the problem and accepted it as a fact.

Example 4

誰もが彼女の日本語能力を認めている。

Everyone recognizes her Japanese ability.

認めている shows that people consider her ability genuine and valuable.

Example 5

この学校では、授業中のタブレット使用が認められている。

At this school, the use of tablets during class is permitted.

Here, 認められている describes formal permission under the school’s rules.

Examples with 許す

Example 1

父は私が一人で旅行することを許してくれた。

My father allowed me to travel alone.

The father gave permission for the action.

Example 2

先生は試験中の辞書の使用を許さなかった。

The teacher did not allow students to use dictionaries during the examination.

許さなかった means that permission was not given.

Example 3

今回の失敗は許しますが、同じことを繰り返さないでください。

I will forgive this mistake, but please do not repeat it.

The speaker has decided not to continue blaming the person this time.

Example 4

彼は友人の失礼な発言を許すことができなかった。

He could not forgive his friend’s rude remark.

The sentence describes an emotional inability to stop blaming the friend.

Example 5

約束を破ったことを許してもらえると思わないでください。

Do not assume that you will be forgiven for breaking your promise.

許してもらえる means receiving forgiveness from the person who was hurt or affected.

How the Meaning Changes with the Same Noun

認める and 許す can sometimes be used with the same noun, but the meaning changes.

間違いを認める

間違いを認める means to accept that you were wrong.

彼は自分の判断が間違っていたことを認めた。

He admitted that his judgment had been wrong.

The person who made the mistake accepts the truth.

間違いを許す

間違いを許す means to forgive someone for making a mistake.

部長は新人の間違いを許した。

The department manager forgave the new employee’s mistake.

Another person decides not to blame the person who made the mistake.

The difference is:

• 間違いを認める: the person admits the fact
• 間違いを許す: another person forgives the mistake

失敗を認める

失敗を認める means to accept that something ended in failure.

失敗を許す

失敗を許す means to forgive someone for failing.

認める focuses on whether the failure is accepted as a fact.

許す focuses on whether the person will continue to be blamed.

Common Mistakes

Using 許す for Ability

Unnatural:

彼の能力を許しています。

This is unnatural because 許す does not mean to evaluate or appreciate someone’s ability.

Natural:

彼の能力を認めています。

I recognize his ability.

Use 認める with words such as 能力, 実力, 努力, 価値, and 成果.

Confusing 自分の間違いを認める with 自分の間違いを許す

Both expressions are grammatically correct, but their meanings are different.

• 自分の間違いを認める

• to admit that you made a mistake

• 自分の間違いを許す

• to forgive yourself for making a mistake

The first is about accepting a fact.

The second is about no longer blaming yourself.

Using 認める in a Casual Family Situation

Possible but rather formal:

母は私が友達と遊びに行くことを認めてくれた。

Natural in everyday conversation:

母は私が友達と遊びに行くことを許してくれた。

My mother allowed me to go out with my friends.

When a family member personally gives permission, 許す usually sounds more natural.

Confusing 許せない and 認められない

あの態度は許せない。

I cannot forgive that attitude.

This expresses anger or moral disapproval.

あの意見は認められない。

I cannot accept that opinion.

This means that the speaker cannot consider the opinion correct, valid, or acceptable.

Remember:

• 許せない: emotionally or morally unforgivable
• 認められない: impossible to accept as true, valid, or valuable

How to Choose on the JLPT

In JLPT vocabulary and reading questions, first look at the noun used with the verb.

Words Commonly Used with 認める

認める is likely when the sentence includes:

• 事実

• fact

• 間違い

• mistake

• 責任

• responsibility

• 能力

• ability

• 実力

• actual ability

• 努力

• effort

• 価値

• value

• 権利

• right

• 存在

• existence

• 必要性

• necessity

Example:

会社は製品に欠陥があったことを認めた。

The company acknowledged that the product had a defect.

The company is accepting a fact, so 認めた is appropriate.

Words Commonly Used with 許す

許す is likely when the sentence includes:

• 外出

• going out

• 入場

• entry

• 使用

• use

• 参加

• participation

• 行動

• action

• 失敗

• failure or mistake

• 過ち

• wrongdoing

• 発言

• remark

• 裏切り

• betrayal

• 遅刻

• lateness

Example:

係員の許可がなければ、関係者以外の入場は許されない。

Without permission from the staff, people other than authorized personnel are not allowed to enter.

The sentence concerns permission to enter, so 許されない is natural.

Three Questions to Ask Yourself

When you are unsure, ask:

• Is someone accepting that something is true?
• Is someone evaluating ability, effort, or value?
• Is someone giving permission or forgiving a mistake?

Choose 認める when the context involves accepting facts or recognizing value.

Choose 許す when the context involves allowing an action or forgiving someone.

However, remember that 認める may be used for official permission under a rule or system.

Quick Practice

Choose 認める or 許す.

Question 1

彼は自分の説明が間違っていたことをようやく（　　　　）。

He finally admitted that his explanation had been wrong.

Answer: 認めた

He accepted a fact, so 認めた is correct.

Question 2

両親は、私が一人暮らしをすることを（　　　　）くれた。

My parents allowed me to live alone.

Answer: 許して

The parents gave permission, so 許して is correct.

Question 3

彼の努力は、チームの全員から（　　　　）られている。

His effort is recognized by everyone on the team.

Answer: 認め

His effort is being evaluated positively, so 認められている is correct.

Question 4

一度謝ったからといって、すべてが（　　　　）されるわけではない。

Just because you apologized once does not mean that everything will be forgiven.

Answer: 許

The sentence is about forgiveness, so 許される is correct.

Question 5

この会社では、一定の条件を満たせば副業が（　　　　）られている。

At this company, side jobs are permitted if certain conditions are met.

Answer: 認め

This is formal permission under company policy, so 認められている is appropriate.

Summary

Let us review the difference one more time.

• 認める means accepting a fact or recognizing ability, effort, value, or responsibility.
• 許す means allowing someone to perform an action.
• 許す can also mean forgiving a mistake or wrongdoing.
• 認める may express formal permission based on rules, policies, or systems.

間違いを認める means admitting that you were wrong.

間違いを許す means forgiving someone for making a mistake.

Once you understand this difference, you will be able to interpret reading passages more accurately and express your thoughts more naturally in Japanese.

Knowing the definition of a word is only the first step. To master similar Japanese words, you need repeated practice choosing the correct expression in real sentences.

RJT, Rapid Japanese Training, helps you practice vocabulary and grammar through JLPT-style questions. Train yourself to notice subtle differences between similar answer choices and build the confidence to choose the most natural Japanese expression.

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