看護

• Reading: かんご
• Romaji: kango
• Kanji breakdown: 看 (kan) — watch over, look after; 護 (go) — protect, guard, defend
• Pronunciation: /kaɴ.ɡo/

Meaning

Nursing; medical care. The professional practice of caring for sick or injured people.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the care of patients, whether by professional nurses or family members. Central to healthcare vocabulary with key compounds like 看護師 (kangoshi, nurse), 看護学校 (kango gakkou, nursing school), and 看護記録 (kango kiroku, nursing records). Japan faces a significant 看護師不足 (kangoshi fusoku, nursing shortage), making this a frequent topic in social discussions.

Examples

1. 母が入院して、家族が交代で看護した。 My mother was hospitalized, so our family took turns nursing her.
2. 看護師になるために大学に通っている。 I'm attending university to become a nurse.
3. 在宅看護のサービスを利用することにした。 We decided to start using an in-home nursing care service.

Usage Guide

Context: healthcare, family, career

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 看 (kan, watch over/look after) + 護 (go, protect/guard). Literally 'watching over and protecting' — caring for someone who is vulnerable.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal