免税

• Reading: めんぜい
• Romaji: menzei
• Kanji breakdown: 免 (exempt, free from) + 税 (tax) → tax-free, duty-free
• Pronunciation: /meɴ.zeː/

Meaning

Tax-free, duty-free — exemption from consumption tax on purchases, a major draw for tourists and a common travel term.

Japan's 免税 system allows foreign tourists (and sometimes Japanese travelers abroad) to shop without paying consumption tax. The red and white 免税 signs are ubiquitous in shopping districts. For Japanese travelers, 免税 shopping at airports is a key part of international travel. The term is also associated with brands, luxury goods, and the excitement of finding deals abroad.

Examples

1. 免税で買ったら結構安くなったよ。 It was way cheaper when I bought it tax-free.
2. パスポート見せたら免税で買えるよ。 If you show your passport, you can buy it tax-free.
3. 空港の免税店でお酒買うの忘れないで。 Don't forget to buy alcohol at the duty-free shop at the airport.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, travel, airport

Tone: practical, excited about savings

Do Say

• この店免税対応してる？ (Does this shop offer tax-free service?)
• 免税の手続き、どこでやるの？ (Where do I do the tax-free paperwork?)

Don't Say

• 日本国内で日本人が買い物するのに「免税」は適用されない (Tax-free doesn't apply when Japanese residents shop domestically)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing 免税店 (duty-free shop at airports) with 免税対応店 (tax-free eligible shops in town) — they operate differently
• Not knowing you need your passport and a minimum purchase amount for tax-free shopping in Japan

Origin & History

Compound of 免 (exempt) + 税 (tax). Standard fiscal vocabulary that has become everyday language due to the prevalence of tax-free shopping for tourists in Japan and duty-free shops at airports worldwide.

Cultural Context

Era: Standard vocabulary, expanded significance since 2014 tax-free reforms

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal, especially shoppers and travelers

Regional notes: Used across Japan. The 2014 expansion of tax-free shopping to consumables boosted tourism spending. Drug stores and electronics shops actively promote 免税.