育児

• Reading: いくじ
• Romaji: ikuji
• Kanji breakdown: 育 (iku/soda) — raise, grow, nurture; 児 (ji/ni) — child, infant
• Pronunciation: /i.kɯ.dʑi/

Meaning

Childcare; child-rearing; nursing. The act of raising and caring for young children.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the process of raising children, especially infants and toddlers. Frequently appears in discussions about work-life balance, parental leave (育児休暇), and social policy. Common compounds include 育児休業 (ikuji kyuugyou, childcare leave) and 育児ノイローゼ (ikuji noirooze, parenting burnout). A topic of significant social debate in modern Japan regarding gender roles and declining birth rates.

Examples

1. 妻と交代で育児をしている。 My wife and I take turns with childcare.
2. 育児休暇を取る男性が増えてきた。 More and more men are taking parental leave.
3. 初めての育児は不安なことばかりだった。 Everything about raising my first child was filled with anxiety.

Usage Guide

Context: family, workplace, social policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 育 (iku, raise/grow) + 児 (ji, child/infant). Literally 'raising a child' — focused on the nurturing aspect of parenting.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal