Translation guide
The way someone is raised, including the values, discipline, and environment provided by parents or guardians. Japanese expresses this through nouns for home education, verbs for how one is raised, and set phrases about good or bad upbringing.
Referring to the overall process and environment of being raised, often in a neutral or descriptive sense.
A common noun meaning upbringing or how one was raised. Often used in phrases like 育ちがいい (well-brought-up) or 育ちが悪い (badly brought-up).
彼は育ちがいい。
He has a good upbringing.
育ちの良さがにじみ出ている。
Her good upbringing shows through.
Refers specifically to discipline, manners, and moral training given by parents. Often translated as 'upbringing' when focusing on behavioral aspects.
しつけの厳しい家庭で育った。
I grew up in a home with strict upbringing.
子供のしつけは親の責任だ。
A child's upbringing is the parents' responsibility.
Literally 'way of raising', this focuses on the method or style of upbringing. Can be used for children, animals, or plants.
彼の育て方には感心する。
I admire his way of upbringing.
A formal term for child-rearing and upbringing, often used in legal or social welfare contexts.
養育環境が子供の成長に影響する。
The upbringing environment affects a child's development.
Describing someone who has been raised with good manners, values, and refinement.
A common phrase meaning 'well-brought-up' or 'having a good upbringing'. Implies good manners and refinement.
彼女は育ちがいいから、いつも礼儀正しい。
She has a good upbringing, so she's always polite.
Means 'thoroughly disciplined' or 'well-brought-up', emphasizing that the upbringing was meticulous.
あの子はしつけが行き届いていて、感心だ。
That child is so well-brought-up; I'm impressed.
Literally 'from a good family', implying a privileged or refined upbringing. Can sound old-fashioned or class-conscious.
彼は良家の出らしい振る舞いをする。
He behaves as if he comes from a good upbringing.
Criticizing someone's upbringing or attributing bad behavior to how they were raised.
Directly means 'badly brought-up' or 'having a poor upbringing'. Can be harsh.
あんな態度をとるなんて、育ちが悪いんだろう。
To act like that, he must have had a bad upbringing.
Means 'not properly disciplined' or 'poorly brought-up'. Focuses on lack of manners.
しつけがなっていない子供が増えている。
There are more and more children with poor upbringing.
A set phrase literally meaning 'I'd like to see the parents' faces', used to criticize someone's upbringing by implying the parents are to blame.
こんなに失礼な奴は、親の顔が見てみたいよ。
Such a rude guy — I'd like to see what kind of upbringing he had.
Describing an upbringing that was rigorous, disciplined, or authoritarian.
Means 'strict discipline/upbringing'. Commonly used to describe a rigorous home environment.
彼は厳しいしつけを受けて育った。
He was raised with a strict upbringing.
Refers to 'Spartan education' or a very strict, disciplined upbringing. Often used hyperbolically.
うちはスパルタ教育だったから、泣き言は許されなかった。
I had a Spartan upbringing, so complaining wasn't allowed.
Discussing how upbringing shapes personality, values, or behavior.
A saying meaning 'upbringing makes the person'. Used to emphasize the importance of how one is raised.
育ちが人を作るというが、本当にそう思う。
They say upbringing makes the person, and I truly believe it.
Means 'because of one's upbringing'. Used to attribute traits or flaws to how one was raised.
彼の短気は育ちのせいかもしれない。
His short temper might be due to his upbringing.
育ち (sodachi) refers to the overall upbringing and resulting character, while しつけ (shitsuke) focuses on discipline and manners. Use 育ち for general 'how someone was raised' and しつけ for 'training in behavior'.
育ちがいい人は自然と礼儀が身についている。
A person with a good upbringing naturally has good manners.
この子はしつけが足りない。
This child lacks discipline (upbringing).
The English word 'upbringing' is often translated directly as 養育 (youiku), but this is formal and less common in everyday speech. For most situations, use 育ち or しつけ instead.