How to say "nursing" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 介護かいごnoun, suru verb, transitive verbNursing as caregiving: looking after people who cannot manage daily life on their own, typically the elderly or infirm. Think hands-on daily support rather than medical care by nurses.
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbA loanword covering care in a broad sense, from medical and nursing care to simply paying attention to someone's needs. Use it when 'care' rather than 'nursing' is the emphasis.
- 看護かんごnoun, suru verb, transitive verbNursing in the medical sense: caring for sick people as nurses do, whether as a profession or as an activity. When English 'nursing' refers to the medical profession, this is the word.
- 養護ようごnoun, suru verb, transitive verbEmphasizes protection and nurture — caring for vulnerable people — rather than nursing in the medical sense. For 'nursing' itself it is seldom the word you want; think protective care.
- 看病かんびょうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbNursing a patient: tending to and looking after someone who is ill, such as a family member caring for a sick relative. It describes the act of caring for the sick, not the profession.
For medical nursing use 看護; for caregiving to elderly or disabled people use 介護; for tending a sick person use 看病; 「ケア」 is a broad loanword for care, while 養護 chiefly means protective care.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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