扶養

• Reading: ふよう
• Romaji: fuyou
• Kanji breakdown: 扶 (fu) — support, help, assist; 養 (you) — nurture, raise, foster
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.joː/

Meaning

Support; maintenance. Financially supporting one's dependents such as children or elderly parents.

A noun and suru-verb (transitive) central to Japanese tax and insurance systems. Key compounds include 扶養家族 (fuyou kazoku, dependents), 扶養控除 (fuyou koujo, dependent deduction), and 扶養手当 (fuyou teate, dependent allowance). Understanding 扶養 is essential for navigating payroll, health insurance enrollment, and tax filing in Japan. The income threshold for 扶養 status is a frequent topic in household financial planning.

Examples

1. 子どもが三人いるので扶養控除が大きい。 Since I have three kids, my dependent deduction is pretty significant.
2. 妻をまだ扶養に入れている。 I still have my wife listed as a dependent.
3. 親を扶養する義務は民法で定められている。 The obligation to support one's parents is set out in the Civil Code.

Usage Guide

Context: tax, insurance, legal

Tone: formal

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 扶 (fu, support/help) + 養 (you, nurture/raise). Literally 'support and nurture' — providing for those who cannot fully provide for themselves.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Working age

Social background: Universal