乳児院(にゅうじいん)

にゅうじいん
noun
infant home; nursery for abandoned or orphaned infants
society
1. infant home; nursery for abandoned or orphaned infants
A residential facility that cares for infants and toddlers (typically under age 2 or 3) who cannot be raised by their parents due to neglect, abuse, parental illness, or other circumstances. A type of child welfare institution in Japan.
その赤(あか)ちゃんは乳児院(にゅうじいん)に預(あず)けられた。
The baby was placed in an infant home.
乳児院(にゅうじいん)でボランティアをしている。
I volunteer at an infant home.
乳児院(にゅうじいん)で育(そだ)った子(こ)どもの多(おお)くは、その後(ご)養子(ようし)に出(だ)されるか児童養護施設(じどうようごしせつ)に移(うつ)る。
Many children raised in infant homes are later adopted or transferred to children's welfare facilities.

A compound of 乳児(にゅうじ) (infant, baby) and 院(いん) (institution). These are specifically for very young children, typically from birth to around age 2. After that age, children move to 児童養護施設(じどうようごしせつ) (children's homes) if they cannot return to their families.

Common collocations

Related words

  • 児童養護施設(じどうようごしせつ): children's welfare facility — for older children (roughly ages 2-18)
  • 養子縁組(ようしえんぐみ): adoption — the legal process of adopting a child
  • 里親(さとおや): foster parent — a family that temporarily cares for children
  • 孤児院(こじいん): orphanage — an older, more general term

Related Words

Related: 里親(さとおや) (foster parent)
general
Added 2026.5.6 20:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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