Translation guide
A midwife is a healthcare professional who assists women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. In Japanese, the standard term is 助産師, but related terms exist for traditional roles and male practitioners.
A licensed medical professional who provides care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
The modern, standard term for a licensed midwife. This is the most common and neutral word used in medical and everyday contexts.
She works as a midwife at a hospital.
The midwife supported our home birth.
An older term for midwife, literally 'assist-birth-woman'. It is still understood but has been largely replaced by 助産師 in official contexts. May carry a slightly traditional or gendered nuance.
In the past, midwives helped with home births.
Specifically refers to a male midwife. Since 助産師 is gender-neutral, this term is used when gender needs to be specified, though male midwives are still rare in Japan.
Male midwives are still rare in Japan.
A non-licensed, often elderly woman who assists with childbirth in traditional or rural settings.
Refers to a traditional birth attendant, often without formal medical training. This term is historical and may be used in stories or to describe pre-modern practices. Not used for modern licensed midwives.
The village midwife delivered the baby.
Literally 'delivering old woman', a colloquial and somewhat rough term for a traditional midwife. Rarely used today and may carry a derogatory tone.
This term can sound disrespectful; avoid in polite conversation.
助産師 is the modern, licensed professional. 産婆 refers to a traditional, often unlicensed birth attendant from the past. Use 助産師 for contemporary contexts.
助産師 is gender-neutral, but if you need to specify a male midwife, use 男性助産師. The older term 助産婦 explicitly means 'female midwife' and is now avoided in official usage.
In the old days, midwives would go around to each house.