保育所 (hoikusho) means “daycare center”

More examples

子どもを保育所に預けています。ko do mo o ho iku sho ni azu ke te i ma su

I leave my child at a daycare center.

Describes a place that takes responsibility for young children during the hours their families need care.

保育園hoikuen: A common everyday term for an organized facility that provides regular care for young children.

乳幼児を預かり、保護者に代わって日中の世話や保育を行う施設。nyū yō ji o azu ka ri ho go sha ni ka wa tte nit chū no se wa ya ho iku o okona u shi setsu

保育所 (hoikusho) consists of 保 (ho, "protect"), 育 (iku, "raise"), and 所 (sho, "place"); 保育 (hoiku) means childcare, and 所 identifies the facility.

English daycare can refer to care in a private home or a center, whereas 保育所 (hoikusho) specifically denotes an organized childcare facility.