飼育

• Reading: しいく
• Romaji: shiiku
• Kanji breakdown: 飼 (shi/ka) — raise, feed; 育 (iku/soda) — grow, nurture
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.i.kɯ/

Meaning

Breeding; rearing; raising and caring for animals.

A する verb (飼育する) meaning to breed, raise, or keep animals. Used for both professional contexts (zoos, farms, conservation) and personal pet-keeping. More formal than 飼う (to keep/raise a pet), it implies systematic care and management. Common in discussions about animal welfare and conservation.

Examples

1. 動物園ではパンダを飼育するのに専門的な知識が必要だ。 Specialized knowledge is needed to raise pandas at a zoo.
2. 絶滅危惧種の飼育に力を入れている施設がある。 There are facilities dedicated to breeding endangered species.
3. 彼女は子供の頃から小鳥を飼育してきた。 She has been raising small birds since she was a child.

Usage Guide

Context: zoos, conservation, pet care

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 飼 (shi/ka, to raise/feed animals) + 育 (iku/soda, to grow/nurture). Both kanji relate to caring for living things, combining feeding with nurturing growth.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal