保育園(ほいくえん)

ほいくえん
noun
nursery school; daycare
1. nursery school; daycare center
A facility providing childcare for infants and young children, typically while parents work.
子供(こども)は保育園(ほいくえん)に通(かよ)っている。
My child goes to nursery school.
保育園(ほいくえん)に入(はい)れなくて困(こま)っている。
I'm having trouble because I can't get a place at nursery school.
毎朝(まいあさ)保育園(ほいくえん)に送(おく)ってから出勤(しゅっきん)する。
I drop the child off at nursery school every morning before going to work.
保育園(ほいくえん)は朝(あさ)7時(じ)から夕方(ゆうがた)6時(じ)まで開(あ)いている。
The nursery school is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
人気(にんき)のある保育園(ほいくえん)は申(もう)し込(こ)みが多(おお)くて、なかなか入(はい)れない。
Popular nursery schools get so many applications that it's hard to get in.

保育園(ほいくえん) is a compound: 保育(ほいく) (childcare) + 園(えん) (institution).

CONTRAST WITH 幼稚園(ようちえん):

  • 保育園(ほいくえん): Childcare-focused, ages 0-5, longer hours (for working parents)
  • 幼稚園(ようちえん): Education-focused, ages 3-5, shorter hours

SYNONYMS:

  • 保育所(ほいくしょ) (more formal term)
  • 託児所(たくじしょ) (childcare facility)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 保育園(ほいくえん)に預(あず)ける (to leave at nursery school)
  • 保育園(ほいくえん)に入(はい)れる (to get into nursery school)
  • 待機(たいき)児童(じどう) (children on waiting lists)

CULTURAL NOTE:
保育園(ほいくえん) shortage (待機(たいき)児童(じどう)問題(もんだい)) has been a significant social issue in Japan, particularly in urban areas where demand exceeds supply.

Related Words

Contrast: 幼稚園(ようちえん) (kindergarten)
core
Added 2026.1.16 8:11 · Revised 2026.3.6 11:25
04500/04704_hoikuen