保 育 士(ほいくし)

ほいくし

noun

nursery teacher; childcare worker

1. nursery teacher; childcare worker

A licensed professional who cares for and educates young children at nursery schools and daycare facilities. This is an official qualification requiring a national exam in Japan.

姉(あね)は保育士(ほいくし)です。

My older sister is a nursery teacher.

保育士(ほいくし)の資格(しかく)を取(と)りたい。

I want to get a nursery teacher qualification.

この地域(ちいき)では保育士(ほいくし)が不足(ふそく)していて、待機(たいき)児童(じどう)が増(ふ)えている。

There is a shortage of childcare workers in this area, and the number of children on waiting lists is increasing.

A nationally licensed childcare professional who works at 保育園(ほいくえん) (nursery schools) or 認定(にんてい)こども園(えん) (certified children's centers). The qualification requires passing a national exam or graduating from a designated training program.

Common collocations

保育士(ほいくし)資格(しかく): nursery teacher qualification
保育士(ほいくし)不足(ふそく): shortage of childcare workers
保育士(ほいくし)試験(しけん): nursery teacher exam
保育士(ほいくし)養成(ようせい): nursery teacher training

Similar words

幼稚園(ようちえん)教諭(きょうゆ): kindergarten teacher — works at kindergartens under the Ministry of Education, whereas 保育士(ほいくし) works at nursery schools under the Ministry of Health
保育(ほいく)者(しゃ): childcare provider — a more general term not tied to the specific national qualification

Related Words

Related: 保育園児(ほいくえんじ) (daycare child)

Related: 待機児童(たいきじどう) (children on daycare waiting lists)

general

Added 2026.5.6 1:10 · Revised 2026.9.28 5:44

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