Translation guide
In Japanese, paternity leave is most commonly expressed using the borrowed term 育休 (ikukyū) or the more specific 男性の育休 (dansei no ikukyū). The official legal term is 育児休業 (ikuji kyūgyō), but in everyday conversation, 育休 is standard. When the father is the one taking leave, it's often clarified with パパ (papa) or 男性 (dansei).
paternity leave
Short for 育児休業. Often specified as 男性の育休 or パパ育休.
To refer to paternity leave in general, or to say that a father is taking leave to care for a child.
Short for 育児休業. This is the most common, everyday term for childcare leave, used for both mothers and fathers. To specify the father, you can say パパの育休 or 男性の育休.
He took paternity leave.
I'm on paternity leave.
Explicitly 'paternity leave' (literally 'male childcare leave'). Used when you need to distinguish from maternity leave.
A casual, friendly term often used in media or by companies promoting paternity leave. 'Papa childcare leave'.
To express the action of taking paternity leave.
To talk about the paternity leave system or policy in a company or country.
育休 (ikukyū) is childcare leave, which can be taken by either parent after the child is born. 産休 (sankyū) is maternity leave specifically for the mother before and after childbirth. Paternity leave is always 育休, never 産休.
The wife took maternity leave, and the husband took paternity leave.
In Japanese, 育休 alone is gender-neutral. If you need to clarify that it's the father taking leave, add 男性の (dansei no) or パパ (papa) before 育休. In context, it's often clear from the subject.
The rate of men taking paternity leave is still low.
The company is promoting paternity leave.
The formal, legal term for childcare leave. Used in official documents and formal contexts.
Apply for childcare leave.
He started his paternity leave last week.
The use of the paternity leave system is increasing.