Translation guide
The English word 'nurse' can refer to a medical professional, the act of caring for someone, or feeding a baby. This guide covers how to express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
Referring to a nurse in a hospital or clinic.
Standard term for a nurse (gender-neutral).
She is a nurse.
Female nurse (older term, still used but less common).
My mother works as a nurse.
Loanword from English, often used in casual contexts or compound words.
A nurse's job is tough.
To look after someone who is ill or injured.
To feed a baby with breast milk.
To hold and sip a drink over a long time.
To sip slowly, often used for alcohol.
He was nursing a beer.
To drink for a long time without finishing.
She was nursing her cocktail.
To keep a negative feeling for a long time.
English uses 'nurse' as a verb for many meanings, but Japanese uses different verbs for each. Avoid directly translating 'nurse' as a single Japanese verb.
彼の心には怒りがくすぶっている。
He's nursing anger in his heart.