里 親(さとおや)

さとおや

noun

foster parent

1. foster parent

A person who takes in and cares for a child who is not their own, either through a formal foster care system or informally. Also used for pet adoption.

里親(さとおや)を募集(ぼしゅう)しています。

We are looking for foster parents.

彼女(かのじょ)は里親(さとおや)として三人(さんにん)の子(こ)どもを育(そだ)てた。

She raised three children as a foster parent.

保護(ほご)された猫(ねこ)の里親(さとおや)になってくれる方(かた)を探(さが)しています。

We are looking for someone to adopt a rescued cat.

Literally 'village parent' — historically, children were sometimes sent to live with families in other villages. Today the term is used in both formal child welfare contexts and very commonly for pet adoption.

Common collocations

里親(さとおや)になる: to become a foster parent / to adopt (a pet)
里親(さとおや)を募集(ぼしゅう)する: to recruit foster parents / adopters
里親(さとおや)制度(せいど): foster care system
里親(さとおや)探(さが)し: looking for an adopter (especially for pets)

Pet adoption

In modern Japanese, 里親(さとおや) is extremely commonly used for finding homes for rescued or unwanted animals. 里親(さとおや)募集(ぼしゅう) (looking for adopters) is a standard phrase on pet adoption websites.

Related words

養親(ようしん): adoptive parent — legal adoption (more formal)
里子(さとご): foster child
養子(ようし): adopted child — formal legal adoption

Related Words

Related: 養親(ようしん) (adoptive parent)

Related: 養子(ようし) (adopted child)

Related: 養父母(ようふぼ) (adoptive parents)

Related: 乳児院(にゅうじいん) (infant home)

general

Added 2026.4.1 1:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

21000/21054_satooya