1.
child-rearing, parenting, raising children
The process of bringing up and caring for children from infancy through childhood. Encompasses feeding, education, emotional support, and all aspects of nurturing a child.
Composed of 子 (child) + 育て (raising), from the verb 育てる (to raise).
Common collocations
- 子育て支援: childcare support
- 子育て世代: child-rearing generation
- 子育て中: in the middle of child-rearing
- 子育てが一段落する: to reach a pause in child-rearing (children grown)
- 子育てに追われる: to be busy with child-rearing
- ワンオペ子育て: solo parenting (doing it all alone)
Usage
A very common word in modern Japanese, frequently appearing in discussions about work-life balance, government policy, and social issues. 子育て支援 (childcare support) is a major policy topic in Japan, where declining birth rates have made supporting parents a national priority.