看護婦

• Reading: かんごふ
• Romaji: kangofu
• Kanji breakdown: 看 (kan) — watch, look after; 護 (go) — protect, guard; 婦 (fu) — woman, wife
• Pronunciation: /ka.ŋ.go.ɸɯ/

Meaning

A female nurse. A healthcare professional who provides patient care in hospitals and clinics.

Historically the standard word for a female nurse. In 2002, Japan unified the terms 看護婦 (female nurse) and 看護士 (male nurse) into the gender-neutral 看護師 (kangoshi) for official use. However, 看護婦 still appears in older texts, media, and casual speech. N4 learners should know both forms.

Examples

1. 母は病院で看護婦として働いています。 My mother works as a nurse at the hospital.
2. 看護婦さんがやさしく声をかけてくれた。 The nurse spoke to me kindly.
3. 子供のとき、看護婦になりたかった。 When I was a kid, I wanted to become a nurse.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, hospital, careers

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 看護 (kango, nursing/caregiving) and 婦 (fu, woman). The kanji 看 means to watch over, 護 means to protect, reflecting the protective care role of nursing.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Older generations

Social background: Universal