(ほけん)

ほけん
noun
health; hygiene; healthcare
1. health preservation; hygiene; healthcare
The maintenance and promotion of health. Commonly used in compound words related to public health services, school health programs, and healthcare systems.
保健(ほけん)授業(じゅぎょう)がある。
There's a health class.
保健室(ほけんしつ)(やす)ませてもらった。
I was allowed to rest in the school nurse's office.
世界(せかい)保健(ほけん)機関(きかん)(あたら)しいガイドラインを発表(はっぴょう)した。
The World Health Organization released new guidelines.

Not to be confused with the homophone 保険(ほけん) (insurance). 保健(ほけん) relates to health maintenance and public health, while 保険(ほけん) relates to financial insurance.

Very common in compound words related to schools and public institutions.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 保健室(ほけんしつ) — school nurse's office
  • 保健所(ほけんじょ) — public health center
  • 保健師(ほけんし) — public health nurse
  • 保健(ほけん)体育(たいいく) — health and physical education