Translation guide
A person employed to care for children in a private home. In Japanese, the concept is often expressed by describing the role or using specific terms for childcare workers.
nanny (general)
Most common term, though it can also mean babysitter.
nanny (professional, international)
Loanword used in upscale or international contexts.
A person hired to look after children in the family's home, often full-time or live-in.
The most common and widely understood term for a babysitter or nanny, though it can imply more occasional care. Use this for general situations.
We have a babysitter look after the kids on weekends.
A direct loanword from English, used in more international or upscale contexts. It implies a professional, often trained, childcare provider.
An older term for a female childcare worker, often in a nursery or institutional setting. Now largely replaced by 保育士, but may still be encountered.
A qualified person who works in a nursery, daycare, or kindergarten.
Explaining that someone takes care of children in a home, without using a job title.
A natural phrase meaning 'a person who takes care of children'. Use this when a specific term like ベビーシッター doesn't fit.
She is looking for someone to take care of the children at home.
Literally 'a person who does babysitting'. 子守 (こもり) is a traditional word for babysitting, but the phrase is slightly old-fashioned.
ベビーシッター is the everyday word for someone who looks after children in the home, often on a temporary basis. ナニー implies a more formal, trained, and often live-in arrangement, common in Western contexts. 保育士 is a licensed professional working in daycare centers or nurseries, not in private homes.
Today is the day the babysitter comes.
They hired a British nanny for their children.
I'm studying to get a childcare worker license.
保母 is an outdated term and may be considered inappropriate or sexist. Use 保育士 for professional childcare workers, or ベビーシッター/ナニー for private nannies.
We're looking for a nanny to help with the twins.
Using ベビーシッター is natural here.
She works as a nanny for a wealthy family in Tokyo.
ナニー fits the upscale, professional context.
彼女はロンドンでナニーとして働いています。
She works as a nanny in London.
She worked as a childcare worker for many years.
Specifically a kindergarten teacher, not a nanny, but sometimes confused in translation. Use only for kindergarten settings.
My older sister works as a kindergarten teacher.
I heard my grandmother used to babysit when she was young.