Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'day care' depends on the context: care for children while parents work, care for the elderly or disabled, or even pet day care. The most common term is 保育園 (hoikuen) for child day care centers.
A facility where young children are cared for during the day, typically while parents work.
The standard term for a day care center or nursery school for children, usually from infancy to preschool age. Often publicly licensed.
子供を保育園に預けています。
I leave my child at day care.
この保育園は定員がいっぱいです。
This day care center is full.
A childcare facility, often temporary or drop-in, such as in shopping malls, hospitals, or events. Less formal than 保育園.
デパートに託児所があります。
There is a day care center in the department store.
Legally defined child welfare facility; often synonymous with 保育園 in everyday use, but can sound slightly more formal or bureaucratic.
認可保育所に入るのは難しいです。
It's hard to get into a licensed day care center.
Refers to the act of childcare or early childhood education, often used in compound terms like 保育サービス (day care service).
保育の質を向上させる必要があります。
We need to improve the quality of day care.
A facility or service providing daytime care and activities for elderly or disabled adults.
The most common term for adult day care services, especially for the elderly. Often includes rehabilitation, meals, and social activities.
祖母は週に3回デイサービスに通っています。
My grandmother goes to day care three times a week.
Similar to デイサービス, but often implies more medical or nursing care. Used for both elderly and disabled individuals.
The formal term under the long-term care insurance system for day care services for the elderly.
通所介護の利用には要介護認定が必要です。
To use day care services, you need long-term care certification.
A service where pets are looked after during the day.
Commonly used for pet day care services. The English loanword is widely understood.
旅行中、犬をペットのデイケアに預けました。
I left my dog at pet day care while traveling.
Often used for overnight pet boarding, but many facilities also offer day care services. Clarify with 一時預かり (temporary care) if needed.
ペットホテルで日中の預かりもしています。
The pet hotel also offers day care.
Referring to the idea of daytime care without specifying the recipient.
Literally 'daytime childcare', used in contexts like 'day care services' in a broad sense.
日中保育の需要が高まっています。
The demand for day care is increasing.
保育園 (hoikuen) is a day care center for children of working parents, operating longer hours. 幼稚園 (yōchien) is a kindergarten, usually for ages 3–5, with shorter hours and an educational focus. They are distinct institutions in Japan.
保育園は夕方まで預かってくれますが、幼稚園は午前中だけです。
Day care centers look after children until evening, but kindergartens are only in the morning.
The direct translation '日ケア' is not used. Always use the appropriate term based on context (children, elderly, pets).
デイケアでは看護師が常駐しています。
A nurse is always on duty at the day care center.