世話|せわsewa[2]odaka (tail-high)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcare; looking after; help; assistance; aid
- nountrouble; bother
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbgood offices; recommendation; introduction
- nouneveryday life; everyday affairs; everyday language
- nounsewamono (Edo-period drama about contemporary life)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 世話する（せわする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 世話します（せわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 世話しない（せわしない） |
| polite (masen) | 世話しません（せわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 世話せず・世話せぬ（せわせず・せわせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 世話した（せわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 世話しました（せわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 世話しなかった（せわしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 世話しませんでした（せわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 世話して（せわして） |
| Potential | 世話できる（せわできる） |
| Passive | 世話される（せわされる） |
| Causative | 世話させる（せわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 世話させられる（せわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 世話すれば（せわすれば） |
| tara | 世話したら（せわしたら） |
| Volitional | 世話しよう（せわしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 世話しましょう（せわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 世話しろ（せわしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym面倒めんどうNeutralCovers both 'trouble' and looking after someone, as in 「面倒を見る」; stresses the hassle involved, while 「世話」 stresses attentive care.
- Synonymお手伝いおてつだいCasualColloquial word for helping out with work or housework; also means a maid, as in 「お手伝いさん」. Leans more toward lending a hand than 「世話」.
- Synonym手助けてだすけNeutralHelping someone out, as in 「仕事の手助け」; stresses pitching in from the side rather than the day-to-day care of 「世話」.
- Synonym介助かいじょWrittenIn written/formal prose, assisting sick or elderly people with daily activities, as in 「入浴介助」; used in nursing and care settings.
- SynonymケアNeutralLoanword for care and upkeep, as in 「スキンケア」 or 「心のケア」; nursing and maintenance rather than general looking-after.
- Related助けるたすけるNeutralVerb: to rescue or help, as in 「人を助ける」; stresses getting someone out of trouble.
- Related援助えんじょWrittenIn written/formal prose, aiding people in need — money, technical help or manpower all work, as in 「経済援助」; 「世話」 is about everyday care.
- Related補助ほじょWrittenIn written/formal prose, subsidizing or supplementing, as in 「補助金」 or 「補助輪」; support that fills a gap, not personal care.
- Related補佐ほさFormalFormal term for assisting a superior, as in 「課長補佐」; supporting someone in their post.
- Related加担かたんWrittenIn written/formal prose, joining in or backing something, often with a negative shade of abetting wrongdoing, as in 「犯罪に加担する」.
- Related手伝うてつだうNeutralVerb: to help do something, as in 「家事を手伝う」; stresses doing it together with someone.
- Related介添えかいぞえWrittenIn written/formal prose, attending at someone's side to look after them, as in 「花嫁の介添え」; also a bridesmaid or best man.
- Related支援しえんWrittenIn written/formal prose, supporting or backing a place or cause, as in 「被災地支援」; can be a one-off or ongoing. 「世話」 is about everyday care.
- Related応援おうえんNeutralCheering someone on or reinforcing them, as in 「応援団」; encouragement and backing rather than personal care.
- Related救援きゅうえんWrittenIn written/formal prose, relief or rescue in an emergency, as in 「救援物資」; used when someone is in a crisis.
- Related救済きゅうさいWrittenIn written/formal prose, relief that lifts people out of hardship, as in 「被害者救済」; also religious salvation.
- Related助成じょせいWrittenIn written/formal prose, funding a project, as in 「研究助成」; financial support, typically from public bodies.
- Related配慮はいりょWrittenIn written/formal prose, consideration and thoughtfulness for others, as in 「配慮が足りない」; care shown through attention, not hands-on help.
- Related救助きゅうじょWrittenIn written/formal prose, rescuing people in danger, as in 「人命救助」.
- RelatedみるNeutralIn the sense of looking after, as in 「子供を見る」 or 「面倒を見る」; everyday speech for watching over someone.
- Related扶助ふじょWrittenIn written/formal prose, support for those who cannot support themselves, as in 「生活扶助」; mostly in social-security contexts.
- Related協賛きょうさんFormalFormal term for sponsoring or cooperating in an event or project, as in 「協賛企業」.
For everyday care and looking after someone, 「世話」 is the default. To watch over someone, say 「面倒を見る」 or 「子供を見る」. For helping out, use 「手伝う」 or 「手助け」; for nursing, 「介助」 or 「ケア」; for aid and support, 「援助」 or 「支援」; for rescue, 「救助」 or 「救援」; for funding, 「助成」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
