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 TERMS:

  • 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
general
Added 2026.4.1 1:19
21000/21054_satooya