免除 miǎnchú to prevent
to prevent; to avoid; to excuse; to exempt; to relieve; (of a debt) to remit
How to remember 免除: 免 avoid + 除 remove = to prevent.
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How it is used
- To exempt/waive or relieve someone of a burden - 免除债务 (miǎnchú zhàiwù) to forgive a debt; 免除责任 (waive liability).
- Formal; objects are obligations, duties, fees, punishments - things officially lifted from someone.
- Contrast 免得 (miǎnde, 'so as to avoid', a conjunction) - 免除 is a transitive verb meaning to formally remove a burden.