小児科

• Reading: しょうにか
• Romaji: shounika
• Kanji breakdown: 小 (shou) — small; 児 (ni/ji) — child, infant; 科 (ka) — department, branch
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.ni.ka/

Meaning

Paediatrics; paediatric department. The branch of medicine that deals with children's health.

A noun for the medical specialty focused on infants, children, and adolescents. In hospitals, it refers to the paediatric department or ward. A 小児科医 (shounikaqi) is a paediatrician. Japan faces a shortage of paediatricians, making this a frequently discussed topic in healthcare news.

Examples

1. 子どもが熱を出したので、小児科に連れて行った。 My child developed a fever, so I took them to the pediatric clinic.
2. この地域には小児科のある病院が少ない。 There are very few hospitals with a pediatric department in this area.
3. 小児科の先生に予防接種の相談をした。 I consulted the pediatrician about vaccinations.

Usage Guide

Context: hospitals, parenting, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 小児 (shouni, small child) + 科 (ka, department/branch). 小 means 'small' and 児 means 'child,' together forming the medical term for children as patients.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal