Japanese word

産休

Pronunciation

Romajisankyū

Meaning

  • nounmaternity leave

Example

母は来月から産休に入ります。haha wa rai getsu ka ra san kyū ni hai ri ma su

My mother will start maternity leave next month.

Illustration for 産休 (maternity leave)

More examples

人事部に産休の期間を相談しました。jin ji bu ni san kyū no ki kan o sō dan shi ma shi ta

I discussed the length of my maternity leave with the human resources department.

Core concept

Describes time away from work centered on childbirth, covering the period before and after the birth.

Common phrases

  • 産休に入るsan kyū ni hai ru

    go on maternity leave

  • 産休を取るsan kyū o to ru

    take maternity leave

  • 産休から復帰するsan kyū ka ra fuk ki su ru

    return from maternity leave

Similar words

産前産後休業sanzensangokyūgyō: The legally defined leave taken before and after childbirth.
育児休業ikujikyūgyō: Leave taken to care for a child after the childbirth-related leave period.

Definition in Japanese

出産を控えた女性または出産した女性が、出産前後に仕事を休むこと。shus san o hika e ta jo sei ma ta wa shus san shi ta jo sei ga shus san zen go ni shi goto o yasu mu ko to

Word origin

産休 (sankyū) is a shortened form of 産前産後休業 (sanzen sango kyūgyō), combining 産前産後 (sanzen sango), "before and after childbirth," with 休業 (kyūgyō), "work leave."

Usage tips

  • In Japanese labor law, 産休 (sankyū) refers to maternity leave around childbirth, while 育児休業 (ikujikyōgyō) refers to childcare leave after that period.

Word lists with this word