Japanese word

介護

Pronunciation

Romajikaigo

Meaning

  • nouncare

Example

父は祖母を介護しています。chichi wa so bo o kai go shi te i ma su

My father takes care of my grandmother.

Illustration for 介護 (care)

More examples

祖父の介護について、家族で話し合っています。so fu no kai go ni tsu i te ka zoku de hana shi a tte i ma su

Our family is discussing my grandfather's care.

Core concept

Centers on sustained help with daily life for a person who cannot manage everything independently.

Common phrases

  • 介護をするkai go o su ru

    provide care

  • 介護が必要kai go ga hitsu yō

    need care

  • 介護の仕事kai go no shi goto

    caregiving work

Similar words

介助kaijo: Helping a person with specific daily activities or movements that they cannot manage alone.
世話sewa: Taking care of a person's daily needs and practical matters in a broad, nontechnical sense.

Definition in Japanese

身体や日常生活に不自由のある人を継続的に支えること。shin tai ya nichi jō sei katsu ni fu ji yū no a ru hito o kei zoku teki ni sasa e ru ko to

Word origin

介護 (kaigo) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 介 (kai, "assistance") and 護 (go, "protection"), linking help with protection.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 介護 (kaigo) often refers to support provided to an older family member, so it appears frequently in conversations about family responsibilities.

Other meanings

  • caregivingnoun

Related words

  • 介護者kaigoshacaregivernoun
  • 介護するkaigosuruprovide careverb

Word lists with this word