Japanese word

保健

Pronunciation

Romajihoken

Meaning

  • nounhealth care

Example

保健の仕事をしています。ho ken no shi goto o shi te i ma su

I work in health care.

Illustration for 保健 (health care)

More examples

学校では毎週、保健の授業があります。gak kō de wa mai shū ho ken no ju gyō ga a ri ma su

We have a health education class every week at school.

Core concept

Describes organized efforts that support health and help prevent illness before medical treatment is needed.

Common phrases

  • 保健の授業ho ken no ju gyō

    health education class

  • 保健の知識ho ken no chi shiki

    health knowledge

  • 保健指導ho ken shi dō

    health guidance

Similar words

健康管理kenkōkanri: Ongoing care and monitoring help maintain a person's physical and mental health.
衛生eisei: Practices that protect health by keeping people and surroundings clean.

Definition in Japanese

人の健康を守り、病気を予防するための活動や仕組み。hito no ken kō o mamo ri byō ki o yo bō su ru ta me no katsu dō ya shi ku mi

Word origin

保 (ho, "protect") and 健 (ken, "healthy") form a Sino-Japanese compound meaning the protection and maintenance of health.

Usage tips

  • 保健 (hoken) can cover health-related work in a community, so its scope is often broader than care provided by a doctor.

Other meanings

  • healthnoun
  • hygienenoun

Related words

  • 保健師hokenshipublic health nursenoun
  • 保健学hokengakuhealth sciencesnoun

Word lists with this word