罷免

• Reading: ひめん
• Romaji: himen
• Kanji breakdown: 罷 (hi) — dismiss, stop, release from duty; 免 (men) — exempt, discharge, remove
• Pronunciation: /çimeɴ/

Meaning

Dismissal; removal from office; the imposition of termination of an official's duties by a superior authority.

A formal noun with strong legal and political connotations. 罷免 implies forcible removal by a superior — it is not voluntary resignation (辞任) but an imposed termination. In Japan, the prime minister may 罷免 ministers at will, and the constitution provides a popular recall mechanism for Supreme Court justices (国民審査). 罷免権 (power of dismissal) is a significant constitutional concept tied to executive authority.

Examples

1. 首相は閣内不一致を理由として閣僚の一人を突然罷免し、政界に大きな波紋を呼んだ。 The prime minister abruptly dismissed one of the cabinet ministers citing internal cabinet disagreement, causing considerable ripples across the political world.
2. 職権乱用が発覚した判事の罷免を求める請願書が、多数の署名とともに議会に提出された。 A petition signed by a large number of people, demanding the dismissal of a judge found to have abused official authority, was submitted to parliament.
3. 罷免処分は当事者の同意を必要とせず、上位機関の一方的な決定のみで執行できる。 A dismissal does not require the consent of the person concerned and can be executed solely by the unilateral decision of the superior body.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, government, judicial

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From 罷 (to dismiss, stop, release from duty) and 免 (to exempt, discharge). Both characters relate to ending a duty or obligation; 罷 carries the stronger connotation of an enforced termination imposed from above rather than a mutual agreement.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Legal/Political