FORGIVE    原諒宥

PROMISE someone one ASSUMES to be GUILTY of a CRIME OR MISTAKE which OFFENDS ONE so as to SAY that one WILL NOT HATE THAT PERSON BECAUSE of that CRIME OR MISTAKE.
FORGIVINGMILDMERCYPARDONPARDONEXCUSEEXONERATEABSOLVEMAKE ALLOWANCES FORFEEL NO RESENTMENT TOWARDFEEL NO MALICE TOWARDHARBOR NO GRUDGE AGAINSTBURY THE HATCHET WITHLET BYGONES BE BYGONESINFORMAL LET OFF (THE HOOK)FORMAL EXCULPATE
Old Chinese Criteria
1. The most general current word for leniency and forgiveness is yòu 宥 (ant. kè 刻 "strict and ruthless"). 2. Kuān 寬 (ant. kè 刻 "ruthless strictness") refers to a general attitude of mind which inclines one to pardon others and to show forgiveness. 3. Róng 容 is an individual act of forgiveness or pardoning vis-a-vis a person who is guilty of something or might be blamed for something. 4. Shì 釋 refers to a personal act of forgiveness directed at a certain person, and in regard of a certain action. 5. Shù 恕 (ant.* chóu 仇 "take a strict hostile attitude to") refers to acts of forgiveness as well as an understanding attitude which involves forgiveness as a virtue. 6. Shè 赦 refers more properly to the formal act of pardoning or acquiting in court, but the word is also commonly used for mental acts of non-legal social forgiveness. 7. Shì 貰 is too rare to be very sure of it, but the word is used to refer to forgiveness as something psychological rather than as a social act merely promising non-punishment.
Modern Chinese Criteria
原諒 is the current colloquial word for forgiving somehing. 原宥 focusses on the tolerance of the forgiver. 寬宥 (lit) focusses on the tolerance of the person who forgives. 寬貸 (lit) is to pardon in a formal way. 見諒 is particularly current in performative contexts like 請見諒 見宥 (lit) focusses on tolerance in view of a transgression. 寬容 (lit) focusses on tolerance in view of a transgression. 見原 (lit, arch) refers to forgiveness in an old-fashioned way. 擔待 focusses on the bearing with something which forgiving practically implies. 包涵 refers to forgiveness in terms of leaving room for transgressors. 海涵 (lit, arch) refers very formally and periphrastically to polite and symbolic forgiveness. 包荒 (dial) refers to forgiveness as an act of generosity. 涵容 (lit) focusses on the willingness to live with an offence or an offender which is involved in forgiving. 包容 refers to tolerant forgiveness. 優容 focusses on the special treatment involved in an act of forgiveness. 諒察 refers to a (requested) investigation of something in a forgiving spirit, and the word is marginal in the group. 諒解 focusses on understanding. 白饒 focusses on the letting someone off without taking any action one obviously could have taken. 容 (cl) focusses on the non-narrowness of the moral perspective involved. 原 (cl) focusses on the empathy and understanding involved in forgiving. 諒 (cl) focusses on the moral confidence and understanding shown towards to forgivee. rough draft to BEGIN TO identify synonym group members for analysis, based on CL etc. 18.11.2003. CH ／
Antonym
  • ACCUSETo BLAME AND INTEND the PERSON BLAMED to be JUDGED AND CONDEMNED CONFORMING:in accordance with LAW.
  • BLAMECRITICISE someone as GUILTY of a WICKED:reprehensible MISTAKE OR a CRIME.
  • ANGERSUDDEN BAD FEELING (AND OFTEN the SHOWING of this FEELING) of HUMAN IN-RELATION-TO CREATURE AND IN-RELATION-TO an ACTION by THAT CREATURE which THAT HUMAN HATES. 
See also
  • GENEROUSHABITUALLY GIVE of one's WEALTH to THOSE WHO NEED it.
  • PARDONPUBLICISE, CONFORMING to LAW, AND USING OFFICIAL AUTHORITY, the DECISION that a PERSON is NOT to be PUNISHED for a CRIME of which he is ACCUSED OR GUILTY.
  • ACQUITPUBLICISE, CONFORMING to LAW, AND USING OFFICIAL AUTHORITY, the DECISION that a PERSON ACCUSED of a CRIME is NOT GUILTY of that CRIME.
  • PARDONPUBLICISE, CONFORMING to LAW, AND USING OFFICIAL AUTHORITY, the DECISION that a PERSON is NOT to be PUNISHED for a CRIME of which he is ACCUSED OR GUILTY.
Hypernym
  • PROMISE　ADDRESS ANOTHER SAYING that one FUTURE:will CERTAINLY DO something DESIRED by him/her. (anc: 15/0, child: 4)
  • ADDRESS　SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 14/0, child: 23)
  • WRITE　PRODUCE a DOCUMENT. (anc: 13/0, child: 4)
Other Hypernyms
  • PROMISEnew-7dbfff55-7b07-4674-bfff-557b075674c7　ADDRESS ANOTHER SAYING that one FUTURE:will CERTAINLY DO something DESIRED by him/her. (anc: 14/1, child: 4)
  • ADDRESSnew-b2b104ff-6112-4947-b104-ff611229470d　SPEAK OR WRITE INTENDING ANOTHER TO HEAR OR READ AND TO REACT to IT.  (anc: 13/0, child: 23)
  • SPEAK　ACT so as to USE WORDS FOR SHOWING MEANING.*Speech by speaker X, directed towards audience Y, in order to communicate message Z. (anc: 12/0, child: 32)
  • Les notions philosophiques Encyclopedie philosophique universelle ( AUROUX 1990) p.

    Insubstantial small article, which does, however manage to supplement the magisterial survey in Historisches Wörterbuch der Philosophie on "Verzeihen".

  • A Dictionary of Selected Synonyms in the Principal Indo-European Languages ( BUCK 1988) p. 16.69

  • Vocabulaire européen des philosophies. Dictionnaire des intraduisibles ( CASSIN 2004) p. 1093

    Brilliant brief survey by Barbare Cassin herself, contrasting the Greek notion of common knowledge establishing a common "us" through the declaration of sympathetic understanding, versus the hierarchical disregarding/ignoring (ignosco), remission of what is owed (pardonare). It was the latter paradigm which came to dominate in Western Europe.

  • Lateinische Synonyme und Etymologien ( DOEDERLEIN 1840) p.

    FORGIVE

    ignoscere refers to the moral act of forgiving someone from one's heart for an immoral act, and to be prepared to forget all about this act.

    veniam dare refers to a political act by which one allows clemency to take the place of formal justice.

    MILD

    mitis refers to mildness versus harshness.

    lenis refers to gentleness versus vehemence.

    placidus refers to mild composure versus restless or nervous hustle.

  • Forgiveness ( GRISWOLD 2007) p.

    Rich discussion of many of the issues raised in modern philosophical literature on forgiveness. With an interesting detailed discussion of J. Butler's seminal analysis.

  • Forgiveness and Forbearance in Ancient China ( HARBSMEIER 2009) p.

  • Reward, Punishment, and Forgiveness: The Thinking and Beliefs of Ancient Israel in the Light of Greek and modern Views ( KRASOVEC 1999) p.

    One of the few detailed comparatist analyses. Indispensable.

  • Dictionnaire des synonymes de la langue francaise. Avec une introduction sur la theorie des synonymes. ( LAFAYE 1884) p.

    PARDONNER

    Excellent survey of the French synonymy.

  • Anthologia sive Florilegium rerum et materiarum selectarum ( LANGIUS 1631) p.

    EXCUSARE

    Unfortunately, this does not concentrate on the aspects of forgiveness that interest me here. The recommendations quoted in this instance are for unforgiving moral strictness.

  • Lateinische Synonymik ( MENGE) p. 113

    ignoscere is to ignore the offence and to cease to resent.

    veniam dare refers to remission of punishment.

    condonare refers to an act of grace letting someone go free.

    indulgere refers to an emotional act of leniency.

    conivere in re is to refuse to do one's official duty and let someone go free.

  • Der griechische Begriff des Verzeihens ( METZLER 1991) p.

    Indispensable handbook. Something of a philological masterpiece.

  • Historisches Woerterbuch der Philosophie ( RITTER 1971-2007) p. 11.1020

    VERZEIHEN VERGEBEN

    Magisterial concise survey of the literature and the main results. Indispensable.

  • Using Chinese Synonyms ( GRACE ZHANG 2010) p. 346

  • The Encyclopedia of Philosophy ( BORCHERT 2005) p.

  • SYNONYMES FRANÇOIS, LEURS DIFFÉRENTES SIGNIFICATIONS, ET LE CHOIX QU'IL EN FAUT FAIRE Pour parler avec justesse ( GIRARD 1769) p. 1.282.240

    PARDON.REMISSION.ABSOLUTION

  • Bibliographisches Handbuch zur Sprachinhaltsforschung. Teil II. Systematischer Teil. B. Ordnung nach Sinnbezirken (mit einem alphabetischen Begriffsschluessel): Der Mensch und seine Welt im Spiegel der Sprachforschung ( FRANKE 1989) p. 63B

    GNADE

    • Words (47 items)

    宥  yòu OC: ɢʷɯs MC: ɦɨu
    侑  yòu OC: ɢʷɯs MC: ɦɨu 29 AttributionsWD

    The most general current word for leniency and forgiveness is yòu 宥 (ant. kè 刻 "strict and ruthless").

      Word relations
    • Contrast: 赦/PARDON Shè 赦 (ant. zuì 罪 "hold criminally responsible") refers specifically and technically to the legal act of pardoning a convicted culprit.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactmitigationCH
    • nabpsychforgiveness
    • vt(oN)be lenient on; forgive
    • vt+prep+Nbe lax in punishmet towards; deal gently with
    • vt[oN]HF 4.2.15f: be lax in (punishments); be lax [be lenient][CA]
    • vtoNmitigate (punishments)CH
    • vtoNN=humanbe lax in punishment towards; deal gently with; deal leniently with; pardon easily
    • vtoNN=nonhudeal leniently with (errors; crimes)
    • vtoNpassivebe dealt with leniently; be forgiven, be pardoned, go scot free
    赦  shè OC:  MC: ɕɣɛ 28 AttributionsWD

    Shè 赦 refers more properly to the formal act of pardoning or acquiting in court, but the word is also commonly used for mental acts of non-legal social forgiveness.

      Syntactic words
    • vt(oN)forgive the contextually determinate crime
    • vt+Npassivebe forgiven for the crime N
    • vt[oN]practise forgiveness
    • vtoNforgive (a person or a crime)
    • vtoNpassivego unprosecuted; be forgiven in the sense of not being punished
    • vtoNreflexive.自forgive oneself
    • vttoN1.+prep+N2forgive N2 for the crime N1
    寬  kuān OC: khoon MC: khʷɑn 15 AttributionsWD

    Kuān 寬 (ant. kè 刻 "ruthless strictness") refers to a general attitude of mind which inclines one to pardon others and to show forgiveness.

      Word relations
    • Epithet: 上/RULER Shàng 上 can refer to any governing authority or ruler, but by Han times the word became a standard polite way of referring to the Han emperor.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactlenience; forgiveness
    • vadNforgiving; lax, lenient
    • vt[oN]be lenient; be tolerant
    • vt[oN]changebecome tolerant
    • vt[oN]psychbe forgiving, tolerant
    • vtoNbe lenient with regard to, forgive
    • vtoNcausativecause to be tolerant; liberalise
    恕  shù OC: hnjas MC: ɕi̯ɤ 11 AttributionsWD

    Shù 恕 (ant.* chóu 仇 "take a strict hostile attitude to") refers to acts of forgiveness as well as an understanding attitude which involves forgiveness as a virtue.

      Syntactic words
    • vt(oN)forgive the contextually determinate person
    • vt[oN]be forgivingly fair; exercise forbearance vis-a-vis others
    • vtoNforgive; be forgiving/understanding with respect to
    • vtoNpsychbe forgiving towards (oneself)
    • vtoNreflexive.己forgive oneself> be lenient towards oneself (Compare the name of the Tang dynasty poet 袁恕己!)
    • vttoN1.+N2forgive N1 for N2-ing
    釋  shì OC: lʰaɡ MC: ɕiɛk 10 AttributionsWD

    Shì 釋 refers to a personal act of forgiveness directed at a certain person, and in regard of a certain action.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactbeing forgiven
    • vtoNset aside> forgive personally (crimes); let go free (Note 釋其罪)
    容  róng OC: k-loŋ MC: ji̯oŋ 10 AttributionsWD

    Róng 容 is an individual act of forgiveness or pardoning vis-a-vis a person who is guilty of something or might be blamed for something.

      Syntactic words
    • nabpsychforgiveness
    • vtoNput up with, tolerate; forgive the crimes of, disregard the crimes of
    • vtoNpassivebe tolerated
    原  yuán OC: ŋɡon MC: ŋi̯ɐn 4 AttributionsWD

    Yuán 原 refers to the act of forgiveness presented as a result of a proper understanding of what needs forgiveness.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNHan: forgive, show understanding SHIJI: 原之
    貰  shì OC: lʰebs MC: ɕiɛi 3 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • vt[oN]forgive people
    • vtoNforgive
    • vtoNN=offenceforgive and offence N
    輕  qìng OC: kheŋs MC: khiɛŋ
    輕  qīng OC: kheŋ MC: khiɛŋ 2 AttributionsWD

    Qīng 輕, literally: "take lightly", refers to forgiveness insofar it consistitutes a refusal to take too serious a view of what is forgiven.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNcausativecause (punishments etc) to be lenient
    赦宥  shè yòu OC: ɢʷɯs MC: ɕɣɛ ɦɨu 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)exercise forgiveness with respect to N
    • VPt[oN]be lenient and let culprits go
    解  jiě OC: kreeʔ MC: kɣɛ 2 AttributionsWD

    Jiě 解 "untie" literally focusses on the way forgiveness removes the "ties of guilt" which would inhibit the forgivee if he were not forgiven.

      Syntactic words
    • nabactthe action of forgiving, forgiveness, pardonCS
    • vtoNpassivebe let off, be forgiven
    寬恕  kuān shù OC: khoon hnjas MC: khʷɑn ɕi̯ɤ 2 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPadNliberal and forgiving
    • VPt[oN]be liberal and forgiving
    • VPtoNforgive
    赦圖  shè tú OC: daa MC: ɕɣɛ duo̝ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPt+prep+N宋 范成大 《館娃宮賦》："援宿恩而乞憐，或赦圖於臣罪。"
    • VPtoNacquit??
    赦罪  shè zuì OC: sbuulʔ MC: ɕɣɛ dzuo̝i 1 AttributionWD

    Shè zuì 赦罪 refers to a very formal act of forgiveness, close to a an act of pardon.

      Syntactic words
    • VPt+prep+Nforgive the person N for his crimes
    寬弘  kuān hóng OC: khoon ɡʷɯɯŋ MC: khʷɑn ɦəŋ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactbe generously forgiving
    宥圖  yòu tú OC: ɢʷɯs daa MC: ɦɨu duo̝ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNlook leniently upon> forgive (a person)
    放  fàng OC: paŋs MC: pi̯ɐŋ 1 AttributionWD

    Fàng 放 focusses on the power of the forgiver not to forgive what he is in fact forgiving.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNleave aside and forgive
    原恕  yuán shù OC: ŋɡon hnjas MC: ŋi̯ɐn ɕi̯ɤ 1 AttributionWD

    Yuánshù 原恕 refers to forgiveness as a morally comendable action.

      Syntactic words
    • NPabactforgiveness (BAO ZHAO: 南朝 宋 鮑照 《轉常侍上疏》："前後輕重，輒得原恕。"
    • VPtoNforgive
    放過  fàng guò OC: paŋs klools MC: pi̯ɐŋ kʷɑ 1 AttributionWD

    Fàng guò 放過 focusses on the less than serious character of what is being forgiven.

      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNpassivebe forgiven (one's misdeeds/mistakes)
    恕己  shù jǐ OC: hnjas kɯʔ MC: ɕi̯ɤ kɨ 1 AttributionWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactforgive oneself> be fair to oneself???????
    寬容  kuān róng OC: khoon k-loŋ MC: khʷɑn ji̯oŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive, tolerate
    包含  bāo hán OC: pruu ɡlɯɯm MC: pɣɛu ɦəm 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive 宋 司馬光 《論張方平第二狀》：“今 方平 舉措輕脫，震駭一方，傳笑天下。不才之跡，章灼如此，而朝廷猶掩覆包含，一無所問。”
    鑒諒  jiàn liàng OC: kraams ɡ-raŋs MC: kɣam li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive (modern?)
    諒解  liàng jiě OC: ɡ-raŋs kreeʔ MC: li̯ɐŋ kɣɛ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNshow understanding for and forgive （modern)
    饒  ráo OC: nɢjew MC: ȵiɛu 0 AttributionsWD

    Ráo 饒 plays on the higher status of the forgiver as compared to that of the forgivee.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNpost-Han???: let off, leave unpunished
    擔代  dān dài OC: k-laam lɯɯɡs MC: tɑm dəi
    擔待  dān dài OC: k-laam ɡ-lɯɯʔ MC: tɑm dəi
    擔貸  dān dài OC: k-laam lʰɯɯɡs MC: tɑm thəi
    擔帶  dān dài OC: k-laam taads MC: tɑm tɑi
    擔戴  dān dài OC: k-laam k-lɯɯs MC: tɑm təi
    耽待  dān dài OC: k-luum ɡ-lɯɯʔ MC: təm dəi 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    體諒  tǐ liàng OC: rʰiiʔ ɡ-raŋs MC: thei li̯ɐŋ
    體亮  tǐ liàng OC: rʰiiʔ ɡ-raŋs MC: thei li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNshow understanding and forgiveness for (someone)
    情恕  qíng shù OC: dzeŋ hnjas MC: dziɛŋ ɕi̯ɤ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPt(oN)heartily forgive the contextually determinate person
    • VPtoNheartily forgive (SHUIHUZHUAN)
    情鑒  qíng jiàn OC: dzeŋ kraams MC: dziɛŋ kɣam 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive (modern)
    恕諒  shù liàng OC: hnjas ɡ-raŋs MC: ɕi̯ɤ li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive Song dynasty, 王安石
    諒宥  liàng yòu OC: ɡ-raŋs ɢʷɯs MC: li̯ɐŋ ɦɨu 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    諒  liàng OC: ɡ-raŋs MC: li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD

    Liàng 諒 appears to be an informal colloquial word for forgiving, for which there may be an example already in the ancient Book of Odes.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNforgive
    免  miǎn OC: mronʔ MC: miɛn 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • vtoNN=offencepardon an offence N, forgive someone for an offence N
    姑息  gū xī OC: kaa sqlɯɡ MC: kuo̝ sɨk 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNbe forgiving where one ought not to be forgiving> appease
    寬宥  kuān yòu OC: khoon ɢʷɯs MC: khʷɑn ɦɨu 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    恕亮  shù liàng OC: hnjas ɡ-raŋs MC: ɕi̯ɤ li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    包荒  bāo huāng OC: pruu hmaaŋ MC: pɣɛu hɑŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive (Ming dynasty: 明 朱權 《荊釵記‧合巹》：“如今送姪女臨門，首飾房奩，諸事不曾完備，望親家包荒。”
    恕罪  shù zuì OC: hnjas sbuulʔ MC: ɕi̯ɤ dzuo̝i 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive SHUIHU
    恕宥  shù yòu OC: hnjas ɢʷɯs MC: ɕi̯ɤ ɦɨu 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNpardon 宋書
    諒情  liàng qíng OC: ɡ-raŋs dzeŋ MC: li̯ɐŋ dziɛŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPiactshow forgiveness and considerateness concerning the real situation
    包涵  bāo hán OC: pruu ɡuum MC: pɣɛu ɦəm 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive (Late Qing)
    容諒  róng liàng OC: k-loŋ ɡ-raŋs MC: ji̯oŋ li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    閽略  hūn lǜe OC: hmuun ɡ-raɡ MC: huo̝n li̯ɐk 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNdisregard forgivingly
    諒察  liàng chá OC: ɡ-raŋs skhreed MC: li̯ɐŋ ʈʂhɣɛt 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive and try to understand 原諒體察
    亮  liàng OC: ɡ-raŋs MC: li̯ɐŋ 0 AttributionsWD

    Liàng 亮 appears to be a less common way of writing the same word as liàng 諒.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNpassivebe forgiven BAOPUZI
    涵宥  hàn yòu OC: ɡuumʔ ɢʷɯs MC: ɦəm ɦɨu 0 AttributionsWD
      Syntactic words
    • VPtoNforgive
    救  jiù OC: kus MC: kɨu 0 AttributionsWD

    Jiù 救 literally refers to the act of forgiving insofar as it constitutes an act of saving the forgivee from the results of his transgression which might ensue if he were not to be forgiven.

      Syntactic words
    • vtoNforgive so as to rescue (see also 救赦）