Translation guide
A facility that provides daytime care for children or adults. In Japanese, the term differs depending on whether it is for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, and whether it is licensed or unlicensed.
A government-approved facility that cares for children while parents work, typically for ages 0–5.
The standard term for a licensed day-care center for children, usually under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Often used for children from infancy to preschool age.
I leave my child at a day-care center.
The waiting list for day-care centers has become a problem.
A more formal or legal term for a licensed day-care center, often used in official documents. Functionally the same as 保育園.
This area lacks day-care centers.
A facility that provides child care but is not officially licensed as a 保育園, often with more flexible hours.
A general term for a child-care facility, often unlicensed or temporary, such as those in shopping malls, hospitals, or workplaces. Can also refer to a small private day-care.
I left my child at the day-care center while shopping.
A small-scale, often private or unlicensed day-care facility, sometimes located in an apartment or a small building. May be called 'baby room' or 'childcare room'.
A facility that provides daytime care, activities, and rehabilitation for elderly people, often as part of long-term care insurance.
The most common term for an elderly day-care center, providing daytime care, meals, bathing, and recreational activities. Often used in the context of nursing care insurance.
My grandmother goes to a day-care center twice a week.
The formal term for day-care services under the long-term care insurance system. Often used in official contexts.
A facility that provides daytime support, activities, and care for people with physical or intellectual disabilities.
A day-care center specifically for people with disabilities, offering life skills training, social activities, and support.
My younger brother draws pictures at the day-care center for people with disabilities.
A formal term for daytime support services for people with disabilities, often including personal care and creative activities.
A program that cares for school-age children after school hours, often called 'after-school care' or 'school-age child care'.
保育園 (hoikuen) is a day-care center that cares for children while parents work, operating under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 幼稚園 (yōchien) is a kindergarten that provides early education, operating under the Ministry of Education. 保育園 typically has longer hours and accepts younger children (from infancy), while 幼稚園 usually follows a school-year schedule for ages 3–5. Some facilities are combined as 認定こども園 (nintei kodomoen), which offer both day-care and educational functions.
The English phrase 'day-care center' can refer to various types of facilities. In Japanese, the specific term depends on the target group (children, elderly, disabled) and the licensing status. Using a generic term like デイケアセンター may not be understood or may sound unnatural. Always choose the appropriate term based on context.
My child goes to a local day-care room three times a week.
I applied for day-care services.
I go to a day-care center for daily living support.
The official term for after-school children's clubs, often used in administrative contexts.
The fee for the after-school children's club will change.