Translation guide
A woman hired to breastfeed and care for another's child. In Japanese, the concept is expressed with specific nouns, and the act is described with set phrases.
Referring to a woman employed to breastfeed another's child.
The standard, neutral term for a wet nurse. Used in historical and modern contexts.
Describing the action of breastfeeding another's child as a job.
Literally 'to do wet nurse', the most common way to say 'to work as a wet nurse'.
Referring to the traditional role of a wet nurse in Japanese history.
An archaic term used in the imperial court for a wet nurse.
乳母 (うば) specifically implies breastfeeding. For a non-breastfeeding childcare worker, use 子守 (こもり) or ベビーシッター.
彼女はその家の乳母として雇われた。
She was hired as a wet nurse for the family.
Polite form of 乳母, often used in historical or respectful contexts.
The wet nurse gently held the baby.
A less common, somewhat literary term for a wet nurse.
Wet nurses often appear in old tales.
She worked as a wet nurse in that household.
Literally 'to let (a baby) drink milk', used when describing the act of breastfeeding, not necessarily as a job.
The wet nurse is breastfeeding the baby.
A formal/medical term for breastfeeding. Can be used for wet-nursing but is not specific to it.
The wet nurse breastfed at regular intervals.
The wet nurse was responsible for raising the prince.