How to say "maternity" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 母性ぼせいnounThe common word for 'maternity' in the sense of motherhood: the abstract quality or instinct of being a mother. Use it when speaking of maternal feeling or the nature of motherhood.
- nounA katakana loanword with the same meaning, maternity as motherhood. Being less common, it is seldom the word you want for this sense; 母性 is the usual choice.
For 'maternity' in the sense of motherhood — the abstract maternal quality or instinct — 母性 is the common word, while 「マタニティ」 is a less common loanword for the same idea, so 母性 is the default choice.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
