Japanese dictionary
How to say "nurse" in Japanese
看護師かんごし · kangoshi
"Nurse" in Japanese is 看護師 (kangoshi). When speaking to a nurse, people say 看護師さん.
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Ways to say "nurse" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 看護師かんごし · kangoshi | Nurse. |
| 看護師さんかんごしさん · kangoshi-san | Nurse (when addressing one). |
How to use it
The older word 看護婦 (kangofu) was used only for women and has been replaced by 看護師.
Nursing care for the elderly is 介護 (kaigo).
Example sentences
- 母は看護師です。Haha wa kangoshi desu.My mother is a nurse.
- 看護師さんに聞いてください。Kangoshi-san ni kiite kudasai.Please ask the nurse.
- 病院で看護師として働いています。Byōin de kangoshi to shite hataraite imasu.I work as a nurse at a hospital.
- 看護師さんが名前を呼びました。Kangoshi-san ga namae o yobimashita.The nurse called my name.
- 看護師になるために勉強しています。Kangoshi ni naru tame ni benkyō shite imasu.I'm studying to become a nurse.
- 英語が話せる看護師さんがいました。Eigo ga hanaseru kangoshi-san ga imashita.There was a nurse who spoke English.
Questions
Why is a nurse called 看護師 and not 看護婦?
看護婦 (kangofu) meant a female nurse. The gender-neutral term 看護師 (kangoshi) has been the official word since 2002.
How do you address a nurse in Japan?
Say 看護師さん (kangoshi-san), or use their name with さん.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.