養生

• Reading: ようじょう
• Romaji: youjou
• Kanji breakdown: 養 (you) — nurture, nourish, cultivate; 生 (jou) — life, living
• Pronunciation: /joː.dʑoː/

Meaning

Recuperation; taking care of oneself; nurturing health. Resting and caring for one's body to recover from illness or maintain wellbeing.

A noun and suru-verb (養生する) with roots in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, where 養生 denoted a comprehensive approach to preserving life and health through balanced living. In modern usage it more narrowly refers to resting properly when ill. 養生訓 (Youjoukun), a famous Edo-period health manual by Kaibara Ekiken, popularised the concept. The phrase 養生しなさい is a common caring directive from older to younger.

Examples

1. 風邪が長引いているので、無理をせず養生することにした。 Since my cold has been dragging on, I decided not to push myself and focus on recuperating.
2. 医師から十分な養生を取るよう指示を受け、二週間の休養を取った。 The doctor instructed me to get plenty of rest, so I took two weeks off to recover.
3. 術後は養生が大切で、無理な運動は回復を遅らせる。 Resting properly after surgery is important—overexerting yourself with exercise can delay recovery.

Usage Guide

Context: health, recovery, daily life, traditional medicine, convalescence

Tone: warm, caring

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 養 (you) means to nurture, nourish, or cultivate, and 生 (jou/sei) means life or living. The concept derives from classical Chinese medicine philosophy, emphasising the cultivation and preservation of vital energy (気). Widely used in Japanese health culture since the Edo period.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal