Japanese for Childcare: words you will actually hear
30 words used in real life in Japan — Childcare — with readings, meanings and example sentences.
与薬
よやく
administering medication at nursery per parent's request
Example
与薬をお願いする場合は、与薬依頼書に記入してください。
If you need the nursery to give your child medicine, please fill out the medication request form.
出席停止
しゅっせきていし
attendance suspension due to a contagious illness
Example
水ぼうそうは出席停止になるので、治癒証明書が必要です。
Chickenpox requires attendance suspension, so you'll need a doctor's certificate of recovery.
指数
しすう
point score used to rank nursery applications
Example
フルタイムで共働きだと指数が高くなりやすいです。
If both parents work full-time, your point score tends to be higher.
呼び出し
よびだし
a call from the nursery summoning a parent to pick up their sick child
Example
今日、園から呼び出しがあって、急いでお迎えに行きました。
The nursery called me to come pick up my child today, so I rushed over.
お漏らし
おもらし
a toileting accident, wetting or soiling oneself
Example
お昼寝の後にお漏らししてしまったので、着替えさせました。
He had a toileting accident after his nap, so we changed his clothes.
うつぶせ寝
うつぶせね
sleeping face-down, a position nurseries actively monitor to prevent SIDS
Example
うつぶせ寝にならないよう、5分おきに呼吸をチェックしています。
We check his breathing every five minutes to make sure he isn't sleeping face-down.
保活
ほかつ
the whole process of searching for and applying to a nursery school
Example
4月の入園に向けて、もう保活を始めないと間に合わないよ。
If you don't start hokatsu now, you won't make it in time for April enrollment.
待機児童
たいきじどう
children on the nursery waiting list (no available slot)
Example
うちの区はまだ待機児童が多くて、来年も入れるか分からない。
There are still a lot of waitlisted kids in our ward, so I don't know if we'll get in even next year.
慣らし保育
ならしほいく
gradual settling-in period when a child newly enters nursery
Example
最初の一週間は慣らし保育で、お迎えは午前11時になります。
The first week is the settling-in period, so pickup will be at 11am.
連絡帳
れんらくちょう
daily contact notebook between parents and nursery staff
Example
連絡帳に、昨夜あまり眠れなかったと書いておいてください。
Please write in the contact notebook that she didn't sleep well last night.
お迎えコール
おむかえコール
the call from nursery asking parents to come pick up their child immediately (e.g. due to fever)
Example
午後3時に保育園からお迎えコールがあって、慌てて早退した。
The nursery called at 3pm asking me to pick him up right away, so I rushed to leave work early.
発熱
はつねつ
onset of fever (above the threshold that requires pickup)
Example
お子さんが38度の発熱がありますので、お迎えをお願いします。
Your child has a fever of 38°C, so please come pick them up.
持ち物
もちもの
items a child is required to bring to nursery
Example
月曜日の持ち物は、着替え一式とタオル2枚です。
The items to bring on Monday are a full change of clothes and two towels.
予防接種
よぼうせっしゅ
vaccination
Example
予防接種の記録を母子手帳のコピーで提出してください。
Please submit a copy of the vaccination record from the maternal and child health handbook.
お便り
おたより
newsletter/notice regularly sent home from the nursery
Example
今月のお便りに、遠足の持ち物が書いてあります。
This month's newsletter lists what to bring for the field trip.
就労証明書
しゅうろうしょうめいしょ
employment certificate issued by employer (required for nursery application)
Example
保育園の申し込みには就労証明書が必要なので、会社に発行を頼んでください。
You'll need an employment certificate to apply for the nursery, so please ask your company to issue one.
保育指数
ほいくしすう
the point score used to rank nursery applications
Example
うちは指数が低いから、今年も入れないかもしれません。
Our score is low, so we might not get in again this year.
送迎
そうげい
drop-off and pick-up (transportation to/from nursery)
Example
今日は主人が送迎をする予定です。
My husband is doing the drop-off and pick-up today.
平熱
へいねつ
one's normal/baseline body temperature
Example
この子の平熱は37度くらいなので、37.5度でもすぐ発熱とは言えません。
This child's normal temperature is around 37°C, so 37.5°C doesn't necessarily mean a fever.
接種券
せっしゅけん
vaccination voucher/coupon (issued by the municipality)
Example
接種券が届いたら、母子手帳と一緒に病院へ持って行ってください。
Once the voucher arrives, please bring it with the maternal and child health handbook to the clinic.
検便
けんべん
a stool sample test, often required before or after starting nursery
Example
入園までに検便の結果を提出してくださいと言われた。
We were told to submit stool test results before the child starts nursery.
加配
かはい
extra staff assigned for a child needing special support
Example
発達が気になるお子さんには加配の先生がつきますね。
If a child's development is a concern, an extra support teacher (kahai) will be assigned.
治癒証明書
ちゆしょうめいしょ
doctor's certificate confirming recovery, required to return to daycare
Example
登園には治癒証明書の提出が必要です。
You need to submit a doctor's certificate of recovery to return to daycare.
とびひ
とびひ
impetigo (contagious skin infection)
Example
とびひがうつるので、治るまでお休みしてくださいね。
Impetigo is contagious, so please keep your child home until it heals.
手足口病
てあしくちびょう
hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Example
夏になると手足口病が流行りますね。
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease tends to spread around every summer.
おねしょ
おねしょ
bedwetting (at night)
Example
まだおねしょが続くので夜だけオムツにしています。
Since bedwetting still happens, we still use diapers at night.
トイトレ
トイトレ
toilet training (casual abbreviation)
Example
そろそろトイトレ始めようかなと思って。
I'm thinking it's about time to start toilet training.
合同保育
ごうどうほいく
combined-class care during early/late hours with few children
Example
7時までは合同保育で異年齢のお部屋になります。
Until 7am it's combined care, so children of different ages are in one room together.
除去食
じょきょしょく
allergen-free meal (with specific ingredients removed)
Example
卵アレルギーなので除去食を用意しています。
Since he's allergic to eggs, we prepare an allergen-free meal for him.
ブレスチェック
ぶれすちぇっく
breathing check during nap time (SIDS prevention)
Example
0歳児クラスは5分おきにブレスチェックしています。
For the 0-year-old class, we do a breathing check every 5 minutes.
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