Translation guide
A person who temporarily cares for a child not biologically their own, usually through a formal system.
The most common and neutral way to refer to a foster parent in Japanese.
The standard term for a foster parent in the child welfare system. It can also refer to pet foster parents.
彼女は里親として3人の子供を育てている。
She is raising three children as a foster parent.
Specifically refers to foster parents who intend to raise the child long-term, as opposed to short-term or specialized foster care.
養育里親になるには研修が必要です。
Training is required to become a long-term foster parent.
When you need to specify the male foster parent.
Foster father. Less common than 里親 but used when gender is relevant.
彼は里父として多くの子供を支えてきた。
He has supported many children as a foster father.
When you need to specify the female foster parent.
Foster mother. Used similarly to 里父.
里母としての経験を語った。
She talked about her experience as a foster mother.
Referring to the whole foster family or the couple acting as foster parents.
Foster family; the household that includes foster parents and foster children.
里親家庭で育った子供たちが集まった。
Children who grew up in foster families gathered.
Foster parent couple; emphasizes the married couple acting as foster parents.
里親夫婦は子供を実の子のように愛している。
The foster parent couple loves the child like their own.
Expressing the action of becoming or acting as a foster parent.
To become a foster parent. The most natural way to express the action.
私たちは里親になることを決めた。
We decided to become foster parents.
To take in a foster child. 里子 means foster child, and 預かる means to take care of someone temporarily.
彼らは里子を預かっている。
They are taking care of a foster child.
When referring to temporary care for animals rather than children.
The same word 里親 is used for pet foster parents. Context makes it clear.
保護犬の里親を募集しています。
We are looking for foster parents for rescue dogs.
里親 (foster parent) is temporary or long-term care without full legal parental rights. Adoptive parents are 養親 (ようしん). Using 里親 when you mean adoptive parent can cause confusion.
The foster care system is called 里親制度 (さとおやせいど). A foster child is 里子 (さとご). These terms are useful when discussing the system.
Temporary foster care for pets, often used by shelters. Literally 'temporary keeping'.
猫の一時預かりボランティアをしている。
I volunteer as a temporary foster parent for cats.