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Vocabulary
世話をする

A2 phrase 10 min read

世話をする

sewa o suru

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 世話をする in 30 Seconds

Explanation 世話をする in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn that 'sewa o suru' means to look after something simple, like a pet or a plant. You use it in basic 'I do' sentences. For example, 'Inu no sewa o shimasu' (I take care of the dog). The focus is on the direct action of feeding or cleaning. You mostly use the polite '~masu' form. It's one of the first multi-word phrases you learn to describe daily chores. You should focus on the pattern [Noun] + no + sewa o suru.

At the A2 level, you can describe who you take care of and why. You start using the '~te iru' form to show ongoing care, like 'Imouto no sewa o shite imasu' (I am looking after my little sister). You also learn the potential form 'sewa ga dekiru' to say what you are capable of doing. You understand that this phrase is used for family members and pets. You can also use it to ask simple questions like 'Who takes care of the flowers?'

At the B1 level, you use 'sewa o suru' in more complex sentences with conjunctions. You might say, 'Since my parents are busy, I take care of the house.' You also begin to see the phrase in its humble and honorific forms, such as 'osewa ni naru.' You understand the social obligation implied by the word. You can discuss the difficulties of caregiving using 'sewa o suru no wa taihen da.' You also start to distinguish it from 'mendo o miru.'

At the B2 level, you can use 'sewa o suru' to talk about social issues, such as the aging population and who will take care of the elderly. You understand the metaphorical uses in literature or business. You can use the causative form 'sewa o saseru' (to make someone take care of) and the passive 'sewa o sareru' (to be taken care of) fluently. You also recognize the nuance of 'sewa' as a 'bother' that is accepted as part of a relationship.

At the C1 level, you understand the deep cultural roots of 'sewa.' You can use it to describe complex interpersonal debts and the concept of 'sewa-yaki' (a meddlesome person who likes taking care of others). You can navigate the fine line between 'taking care' and 'interfering.' You are comfortable using the phrase in formal speeches or written essays about social structures and the 'care economy.' You understand the historical use of 'sewanin' in arranged marriages.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly grasp of 'sewa' and its related idioms. You can use the term in philosophical discussions about human dependency and the nature of altruism. You understand the word's evolution from the Edo period to modern times. You can use it in high-level literary analysis to describe character motivations. You are also aware of regional variations or extremely formal archaic versions of the phrase used in classical literature or legal contexts regarding guardianship.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

世話をする in 30 Seconds

Used for taking care of living things like pets, plants, and people.
Combines the noun 'sewa' (care) with the verb 'suru' (to do).
Implies a consistent, long-term responsibility rather than a quick favor.
Deeply rooted in Japanese social values of interdependence and gratitude.

The phrase 世話をする (sewa o suru) is a cornerstone of Japanese social interaction and responsibility. At its most basic level, it translates to 'to take care of' or 'to look after,' but the cultural weight it carries is significant. The word sewa (世話) historically refers to assistance, aid, or the trouble one takes for another. When you perform sewa, you are actively engaging in the maintenance, well-being, or management of another living being or a situation that requires attention.

Daily Life Context: In everyday Japanese, this phrase is most frequently used when talking about looking after pets, children, or elderly family members. It implies a consistent, ongoing effort rather than a one-time favor. For example, feeding a dog every morning and taking it for walks is described as 犬の世話をする.
Professional Context: In a work environment, it can refer to looking after a new employee (kouhai) or managing the needs of a client. It suggests a mentorship role or a concierge-like attention to detail. If a manager asks you to guide a newcomer, they are asking you to perform sewa for them.
The Nuance of Effort: Unlike the English word 'help,' which can be brief, sewa often implies a degree of 'bother' or 'burden' that the caregiver willingly accepts. This is why the phrase osewa ni naru (to be in someone's care) is used as a polite greeting to acknowledge the effort others have expended on your behalf.

毎朝、私は庭の花の世話をするのが日課です。(Every morning, it is my routine to take care of the flowers in the garden.)

Example of routine care for plants.

The phrase is composed of the noun 世話 (sewa), the object marker を (o), and the verb する (suru). Because suru is a highly flexible verb, it can be conjugated into various forms like shite iru (is currently taking care of) or shitai (want to take care of). This flexibility allows speakers to describe a wide range of nurturing actions across different timeframes and levels of formality.

彼は入院中の祖父の世話をするために、仕事を休んだ。(He took time off work to look after his grandfather who is hospitalized.)

It is important to distinguish sewa o suru from tasukeru (to help). Tasukeru is often used for rescuing someone from a specific problem or emergency. In contrast, sewa o suru is about the ongoing maintenance of life and comfort. You tasukeru someone who is drowning, but you sewa o suru for a baby throughout the day.

Social Expectations: In Japan, the eldest child was traditionally expected to sewa o suru for their parents in old age. While modern society is changing, the linguistic structure remains deeply rooted in these familial obligations. Using this phrase correctly shows an understanding of these social ties.

隣の家の犬の世話をすることになった。(I ended up taking care of the neighbor's dog.)

Finally, the phrase is often used with the honorific prefix 'o' in the passive or humble form: osewa ni naru. This is one of the most common set phrases in Japanese business and social life, meaning 'to be indebted to someone' or 'to receive care from someone.' Even if you aren't the one doing the care, understanding sewa is essential for expressing gratitude.

Using 世話をする correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure and the particles that accompany it. The standard pattern is [Person/Object] + の + 世話をする. This 'no' particle indicates that the care is directed toward the noun preceding it. Unlike some English verbs, sewa acts as a noun that you 'do' (suru).

Basic Structure: [Target] + の + 世話をする.
Example: 猫の世話をする (Take care of the cat). Here, 'neko' (cat) is the recipient of the action.
Polite Form: In formal situations, change suru to shimasu.
Example: 子供たちの世話をします (I will take care of the children).

彼女はボランティアとして、お年寄りの世話をしています。(She is taking care of elderly people as a volunteer.)

When you want to emphasize that the care is a continuous state, use the ~te iru form. This is very common because 'taking care of' is usually a duration-based activity. Sewa o shite iru suggests that you are currently in the role of a caregiver.

Another important variation is the potential form, sewa o dekiru (can take care of). This is often used when discussing whether someone is capable of handling the responsibility of a pet or a child. If a child asks for a puppy, a parent might ask, 「ちゃんと世話ができるの？」 (Can you really take care of it?).

一人で赤ちゃんの世話をするのは大変です。(It is hard to take care of a baby by oneself.)

Causative and Passive: Causative: 世話をさせる (To make someone take care of).
Passive: 世話をされる (To be taken care of by someone). The passive form is often used by the elderly or patients describing their caregivers.

In business, sewa o suru can be used metaphorically. For instance, 'taking care of a project' or 'looking after a client's needs.' However, in these cases, words like tantou suru (to be in charge of) are more common. Sewa remains more personal and physical.

弟の世話をするのが私の役目です。(It is my duty to look after my younger brother.)

Finally, consider the negative form sewa o shinai (to not take care of). This can imply neglect. In a sentence like 「彼はペットの世話を全くしない」 (He doesn't take care of his pet at all), it carries a critical tone regarding his lack of responsibility.

The phrase 世話をする is ubiquitous in Japanese society, appearing in domestic, educational, and medical settings. Understanding the context helps in choosing the right level of politeness and intensity.

At Home: This is the most common setting. Parents talk about kodomo no sewa (childcare), and children are taught to sewa o suru for their pets. You'll hear it in conversations about daily chores and family responsibilities. 'Who is going to take care of the hamster?' is 「ハムスターの世話は誰がするの？」.
In Schools: Japanese schools often have animals or gardens that students must maintain. Teachers will use this phrase to assign duties. It’s part of the 'moral education' (doutoku) to learn how to sewa o suru for living things, fostering empathy and responsibility.

小学校では、ウサギの世話をする係があります。(In elementary school, there is a role for taking care of the rabbits.)

In a medical or nursing context, while professionals might use more technical terms like kaigo (nursing care) or kango (nursing), family members and patients will use sewa o suru. It sounds more warm and personal than the clinical alternatives. A patient might say, 「看護師さんにとてもよく世話をしてもらいました」 (The nurses took very good care of me).

In fiction, such as anime or drama, this phrase often appears in scenes involving a 'tsundere' character who reluctantly takes care of someone they like, or in heartwarming family stories. It's a key phrase for showing a character's nurturing side or their growth in responsibility.

「君の世話をするのはもう疲れたよ」と彼は冗談めかして言った。("I'm tired of taking care of you," he said jokingly.)

In community centers or volunteer groups, you will hear it regarding 'elderly care' (roujin no sewa). It describes the physical acts of helping someone eat, move, or clean. It is deeply connected to the Japanese concept of en (connections) and giri (social obligation).

While 世話をする is a versatile phrase, English speakers often make mistakes by overusing it or confusing it with similar concepts like 'helping' or 'kindness.'

Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Tasukeru' (To Help/Save): If someone drops their wallet, you tasukeru (help) them or tetsudau (assist). You do NOT sewa o suru. Sewa implies a long-term or comprehensive caregiving role. Using it for a small, one-off favor sounds strange and overly heavy.
Mistake 2: Using it for Inanimate Objects (Mostly): You can sewa o suru for plants and animals, but you don't usually use it for machines or cars. For a car, you use teire suru (maintenance) or shuuri suru (repair). Sewa is reserved for things that are 'living' or 'organic' in their needs.

❌ 車の世話をする。
✅ 車の手入れをする。(To maintain/look after a car.)

Another common mistake is the confusion between sewa o suru (to give care) and sewa ni naru (to receive care). If you want to thank someone for their help, saying sewa o shimasu is wrong—it sounds like you are offering to be their babysitter. You must say osewa ni narimashita (I was in your care).

Pronunciation is usually straightforward, but ensure the 'o' particle is distinct. In fast speech, it might sound like 'sewasuru,' but in writing and clear speech, the particle o is necessary to maintain the noun-verb relationship.

❌ 私は彼を世話をします。
✅ 私は彼の世話をします。(I take care of him. Note the 'no' particle.)

Finally, avoid using sewa o suru when you mean 'to manage' a business in a cold, administrative sense. For that, use keiei suru or kanri suru. Sewa always has a touch of human warmth or physical labor involved.

Japanese has several ways to express the idea of 'taking care.' Choosing the right one depends on the level of responsibility, the target, and the formality of the situation.

面倒を見る (Mendō o miru): This is the closest synonym to sewa o suru. It is slightly more colloquial and is often used for looking after younger siblings or subordinates at work. It carries a sense of 'watching over' someone.
介護する (Kaigo suru): This is specifically for nursing care, usually for the elderly or disabled. It is a more formal, professional term than sewa o suru. You would see this in a medical report or a job description for a caregiver.
看護する (Kango suru): This refers to medical nursing. It is what a kangoshi (nurse) does in a hospital. While sewa might include bringing water, kango includes monitoring health and administering treatment.

Comparison:
1. 子供の世話をする (General care)
2. 子供の面倒を見る (Watching over/looking after)
3. 病人を看護する (Nursing a sick person)

For inanimate objects, use teire suru (手入れする). This is used for gardens, tools, or hair. It means 'to maintain' or 'to groom.' If you say you sewa o suru for your hair, it sounds like your hair is a pet!

In a business context, tantou suru (担当する - to be in charge of) is the professional choice. If you are 'taking care' of a specific account, you are the tantousha. Using sewa there would make it sound like you are babysitting the client.

育ての親 (Sodate no oya): The parent who took care of (raised) the child, as opposed to the biological parent.

Lastly, iku-ji (育児) is the specific noun for 'child-rearing.' When talking about the concept of childcare as a societal issue, ikuji is used rather than the verbal phrase sewa o suru. Understanding these boundaries will make your Japanese sound more natural and precise.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In the Edo period, 'Sewa' became a genre of theater (Sewamono) that focused on the everyday lives and troubles of commoners, rather than historical epics.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /se.wa o su.ɾu/

US /se.wa o su.ru/

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. 'Sewa' generally has a Low-High pitch.

Rhymes With

kiwa (edge) niwa (garden) kiwa (limit) kuru (to come) nuru (to paint) furu (to fall) suru (to do) muru (ignore - slang)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'se' like 'she'. It should be a crisp 's' sound.
Making the 'o' particle too long.
Pronouncing 'ru' with a rounded English 'r'.
Merging 'wa' and 'o' into one sound.
Stress-accenting the first syllable like English.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Kanji for Sewa is common but easy to recognize.

Writing 3/5

Writing 'sewa' (世話) requires remembering the 'world' and 'talk' kanji.

Speaking 2/5

Pronunciation is easy, but the 'wa o' particle sequence needs practice.

Listening 2/5

Easily recognized in daily conversation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

するのを犬猫

Learn Next

面倒を見る助ける手伝う介護

Advanced

恩恵義理恩義介抱養育

Grammar to Know

Noun + をする

テニスをする、料理をする、世話をする

Potential Form (できる)

世話ができる、世話ができない

Continuous Form (〜ている)

世話をしている

Honorific Prefix 'O'

お世話になる

Particle 'No' for Possession/Target

私の世話、犬の世話

Examples by Level

私は犬の世話をします。

I take care of the dog.

Basic [Noun] + no + sewa o shimasu.

猫の世話をしてください。

Please take care of the cat.

Request form using ~te kudasai.

毎日、花の世話をします。

I take care of the flowers every day.

Adverb 'mainichi' (every day) used with the phrase.

だれが魚の世話をしますか。

Who takes care of the fish?

Question form using 'dare' (who).

妹の世話をします。

I take care of my younger sister.

Family member as the target.

弟の世話をしました。

I took care of my younger brother.

Past tense 'shimashita'.

母は赤ちゃんの世話をします。

My mother takes care of the baby.

Subject 'haha' (mother).

うさぎの世話は楽しいです。

Taking care of rabbits is fun.

Using the phrase as a noun phrase with 'wa'.

一人で犬の世話をしています。

I am taking care of the dog by myself.

~te iru form for ongoing action.

あなたは猫の世話ができますか。

Can you take care of a cat?

Potential form 'dekiru'.

週末は子供の世話をしなければなりません。

I must take care of the children on weekends.

Obligation form ~nakereba narimasen.

祖母の世話をするのは大変です。

Taking care of my grandmother is hard.

Gerund form [Verb] + no wa.

旅行の間、私の鳥の世話をしてくれませんか。

Could you take care of my bird while I'm on a trip?

Polite request 'shite kuremasen ka'.

彼は弟の世話をするのが上手です。

He is good at taking care of his younger brother.

Using 'no ga jouzu' (good at doing).

病気の友達の世話をしました。

I took care of my sick friend.

Adjective 'byouki no' modifying 'tomodachi'.

学校でウサギの世話をすることを学びました。

I learned to take care of rabbits at school.

Verb 'manabu' (to learn).

両親が忙しいので、私が夕食の世話をします。

Since my parents are busy, I'll take care of dinner.

Using 'node' (because) for reasoning.

お世話になった先生に手紙を書きました。

I wrote a letter to the teacher who took care of me.

Humble/Honorific use 'osewa ni natta'.

彼は自分のことだけでなく、他人の世話もよくする。

He not only takes care of himself but often looks after others too.

Contrast 'dake de naku... mo'.

ペットの世話をすることの大切さを知っています。

I know the importance of taking care of pets.

Noun phrase 'sewa o suru koto' (the act of taking care).

彼女は入院している夫の世話をするために仕事を辞めた。

She quit her job to take care of her hospitalized husband.

Purpose 'tame ni'.

誰かに世話をしてもらうのは、少し恥ずかしいです。

It's a bit embarrassing to have someone take care of me.

Receiving action 'shite morau'.

近所の人に庭の世話を頼みました。

I asked a neighbor to take care of the garden.

Requesting 'tanomu'.

忙しすぎて、自分の世話をする暇もありません。

I'm so busy I don't even have time to take care of myself.

Negative 'hima mo arimasen'.

高齢化社会では、誰が誰の世話をするかが大きな問題だ。

In an aging society, who takes care of whom is a big issue.

Interrogative clause as a subject.

彼は他人の世話を焼くのが好きな「世話焼き」だ。

He is a 'sewayaki' who loves looking after others.

Compound noun 'sewayaki' (meddler).

親の世話をすることは、当然の義務だと考えられている。

Taking care of one's parents is considered a natural duty.

Passive 'kangaerarete iru' (is considered).

彼は子供たちに、生き物の世話をさせることで責任感を教えた。

He taught responsibility by making the children take care of living things.

Causative form 'saseru'.

入院中は看護師さんに大変お世話になりました。

I was very much taken care of by the nurses during my hospitalization.

Extremely polite past 'osewa ni narimashita'.

仕事の世話をするという名目で、彼は私に近づいた。

He approached me under the pretext of taking care of my job search.

Pretext 'meimoku de'.

自分の身の回りの世話くらい、自分でしなさい。

Do at least your own personal care by yourself.

Imperative 'shinasai'.

彼女はボランティア活動を通じて、多くの孤児の世話をしてきた。

She has been taking care of many orphans through volunteer activities.

Perfect aspect '~te kita'.

身寄りのない老人の世話を焼く彼の姿には、頭が下がる。

I take my hat off to him for looking after the elderly with no relatives.

Idiom 'atama ga sagaru' (to admire).

社会保障制度が崩壊すれば、家族が世話をせざるを得なくなる。

If the social security system collapses, families will be forced to take care of each other.

Form 'sezaru o enakunaru' (cannot help but do).

彼は恩師の世話をするために、故郷に戻る決心をした。

He decided to return to his hometown to take care of his former teacher.

Noun 'onshi' (respected teacher).

世話をすることと、甘やかすことの境界線は曖昧だ。

The line between taking care of someone and spoiling them is blurry.

Comparison of nouns 'koto'.

彼は政治家としての地盤を固めるため、地元の有力者の世話をした。

To solidify his base as a politician, he took care of local influential people.

Strategic use of 'sewa'.

長年の世話に報いるため、彼は莫大な寄付を行った。

To repay the care he received over many years, he made a huge donation.

Repaying care 'sewa ni mukuiru'.

世話をする側とされる側の心理的な葛藤を描いた小説だ。

It is a novel that depicts the psychological conflict between the caregiver and the receiver.

Active vs Passive pairing.

彼は万事において、私の世話を焼きたがる。

He wants to meddle in everything concerning me.

Form 'tagaru' (desire of a third person).

かつての「世話人」という役割は、地域社会の潤滑油であった。

The former role of the 'sewanin' acted as the lubricant of the local community.

Historical term 'sewanin'.

介護ロボットが世話をする時代の到来は、倫理的な問いを投げかける。

The arrival of an era where robots provide care poses ethical questions.

Advanced social discourse.

彼は生涯を捧げて、ハンセン病患者の世話に尽力した。

He devoted his life to the care of leprosy patients.

Formal 'jinryoku suru' (to exert effort).

「世話」という言葉の語源を辿れば、仏教的な慈悲の心に行き着く。

Tracing the etymology of 'sewa' leads to the Buddhist heart of compassion.

Etymological discussion.

自己犠牲的な世話の果てに、彼女自身が燃え尽きてしまった。

After her self-sacrificing caregiving, she herself burned out.

Compound adjective 'jiko-giseiteki'.

国家が国民の世話をどこまで焼くべきか、議論は平行線を辿っている。

The debate over how far the state should look after its citizens continues with no resolution.

Metaphorical state care.

彼は自らの不徳を恥じ、隠居して寺の世話をすることにした。

Ashamed of his own lack of virtue, he retired and decided to take care of a temple.

Archaic context 'inkyo' (retirement).

世話を焼くという行為は、時として支配欲の裏返しでもある。

The act of taking care of others is sometimes the flip side of a desire for control.

Psychological analysis.

Common Collocations

犬の世話をする

子供の世話をする

花の世話をする

老人の世話をする

身の回りの世話

病人の世話をする

赤ちゃんの世話をする

仕事の世話をする

食事の世話をする

世話を焼く

Common Phrases

お世話になります

— Thank you for your help/support (standard greeting).

いつもお世話になっております。

お世話様でした

— Thank you for your trouble (casual/to service workers).

配達、お世話様でした。

世話が焼ける

— To be a handful or require a lot of care.

この子は本当に世話が焼ける。

大きなお世話

— None of your business / Unwanted help.

それは大きなお世話だ！

世話をかける

— To cause someone trouble or make them take care of you.

皆さんに世話をかけました。

世話を焼く

— To be meddlesome or very helpful.

彼は人の世話を焼くのが好きだ。

世話のしがいがある

— To be worth taking care of.

この犬は世話のしがいがある。

世間に世話になる

— To be supported by society.

世間に世話になって生きている。

世話人

— A manager, organizer, or go-between.

彼がパーティーの世話人だ。

世話を頼む

— To ask someone to take care of something.

旅行中、猫の世話を頼んだ。

Often Confused With

世話をする vs 助ける

Tasukeru is for emergencies or saving someone; Sewa is for daily care.

世話をする vs 手伝う

Tetsudau is to assist with a task; Sewa is to be responsible for someone's welfare.

世話をする vs 面倒

Mendo is similar but can also mean 'troublesome/annoying'.

Idioms & Expressions

"世話を焼く"

— To meddle or be overly helpful in others' affairs.

彼女はいつも私の恋愛に世話を焼く。

Colloquial

"世話が焼ける"

— To be troublesome or require constant attention.

手のかかる生徒ほど世話が焼ける。

Neutral

"大きなお世話"

— Used to tell someone their help is unwanted (Mind your own business).

私の服に口出しするのは大きなお世話だ。

Informal/Sharp

"お世話様"

— A casual way to thank someone for a service.

お世話様、またお願いします。

Casual

"世話に預かる"

— To receive care or favor from a superior.

社長のご近親の世話に預かる。

Formal

"世話をかける"

— To cause someone to go through trouble for you.

長い間、世話をかけたね。

Neutral

"世を去る"

— To die (literally leave the world, though 'se' is different kanji, it's a common homophone error).

彼は静かに世を去った。

Formal

"世話女房"

— A wife who takes very good care of her husband.

彼は世話女房をもらって幸せだ。

Idiomatic

"世話物"

— A genre of Kabuki plays dealing with the lives of ordinary people.

世話物の名作を観る。

Academic/Art

"世話を尽くす"

— To do everything possible to take care of someone.

最後まで世話を尽くした。

Formal

Easily Confused

世話をする vs 手入れ

Both mean 'look after'.

Teire is for objects/hair/gardens; Sewa is for living beings.

カメラの手入れをする。

世話をする vs 介護

Both involve care.

Kaigo is professional/nursing care for the elderly; Sewa is general.

老人ホームで介護する。

世話をする vs 管理

Both involve management.

Kanri is administrative/technical management; Sewa is personal/physical.

マンションを管理する。

世話をする vs 養育

Both involve raising.

Youiku is a formal term for raising and educating children.

子供を養育する権利。

世話をする vs 看病

Both involve sick people.

Kanbyou is specifically nursing someone back to health from an illness.

一晩中、看病した。

Sentence Patterns

[Object] の世話をする。

花の世話をする。

[Object] の世話をしている。

弟の世話をしている。

[Object] の世話をしなければならない。

犬の世話をしなければならない。

[Object] の世話をするのは大変だ。

赤ちゃんの世話をするのは大変だ。

[Person] にはお世話になった。

先生には大変お世話になった。

[Object] の世話に尽力する。

孤児の世話に尽力する。

[Object] の世話ができる。

一人で世話ができる。

[Object] の世話を頼む。

友達に世話を頼む。

Word Family

Nouns

世話 (Care)

世話人 (Caregiver/Manager)

お世話 (Honorific care)

Verbs

世話する (To care for)

お世話になる (To be cared for)

Adjectives

世話好きな (Helpful/Meddlesome)

介護

看護

育児

面倒

手入れ

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily life and business greetings.

Common Mistakes

車を世話する → 車の手入れをする
Cars are not living things, so they don't receive 'sewa'.
私はあなたを世話します → あなたのお世話をします
Requires the 'no' particle (or honorific 'o' + 'no') to be natural.
お世話をします (to mean 'Thank you') → お世話になります
Shimasu means you are doing the care; narimasu means you are receiving it.
荷物を世話する → 荷物を持つのを手伝う
'Sewa' is too heavy for just carrying luggage.
髪の世話をする → 髪の手入れをする
Hair is part of the body but we use 'teire' for grooming.

Tips

The 'No' Particle

Always remember to use 'no' between the person/pet and 'sewa'. Example: 'Inu no sewa', not 'Inu sewa'.

Business Etiquette

Master the phrase 'O-sewa ni narimasu'. It's the most powerful phrase in Japanese business for building rapport.

Sewa vs. Tasukeru

Use 'sewa' for long-term care (like a baby) and 'tasukeru' for short-term help (like carrying a bag).

The Particle 'O'

Make sure to pronounce the 'o' clearly. It separates the noun 'sewa' from the verb 'suru'.

Plants are people too

In Japanese, you use 'sewa o suru' for plants, just like you would for animals. It shows they are living things.

Repaying Care

If someone takes care of you, it's polite to say 'O-sewa ni narimashita' when you leave or finish.

Kanji Meaning

Think of 世話 as 'talking (話) to the world (世)' to help someone out.

Potential Form

Use 'sewa ga dekiru' to ask if someone is responsible enough to have a pet.

Context Clues

If you hear 'sewa' in a hospital, it's about nursing. In a house, it's about family.

Don't Meddle

Be careful with 'sewa o yaku'. It can mean you are being annoying by helping too much.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a **S**ea **Wa**ve (Se-Wa) washing over someone to clean and **Care** for them.

Visual Association

Visualize a person holding a watering can over a flower and a bowl of food for a dog at the same time.

Word Web

Pet Child Plant Elderly Responsibility Love Effort Daily

Challenge

Try to say 'Inu no sewa o suru' five times fast without tripping over the 'wa o' transition.

Word Origin

The word 'Sewa' (世話) originates from the idea of 'world' (世) and 'talking/story' (話). Originally, it referred to 'worldly talk' or 'gossip.'

Original meaning: Over time, the meaning shifted from 'talking about the world' to 'dealing with the affairs of the world,' and eventually to 'providing assistance or care.'

Japanese (Sino-Japanese compound).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'sewa o suru' for adults who are capable; it might sound patronizing if they don't actually need help.

In English, 'taking care' can be very broad. In Japanese, 'sewa' is specifically about nurturing and maintenance.

Sewamono (Kabuki genre) Osewa-san (a nickname for helpful neighbors) Caregiver robots in Japanese sci-fi

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Pet Ownership

餌をあげる
散歩に連れて行く
トイレを掃除する
世話を欠かさない

Parenting

オムツを替える
寝かしつける
ミルクをあげる
公園で遊ぶ

Gardening

水をやる
肥料をあげる
草むしりをする
日当たりの良い場所に置く

Nursing

着替えを手伝う
食事の介助
薬を飲ませる
様子を見る

Business Mentorship

仕事を教える
相談に乗る
ミスをカバーする
成長を見守る

Conversation Starters

"家で何かペットの世話をしていますか？ (Do you take care of any pets at home?)"

"子供の頃、何の世話をするのが好きでしたか？ (What did you like taking care of when you were a child?)"

"植物の世話は得意ですか？ (Are you good at taking care of plants?)"

"誰かの世話をするのは大変だと思いますか？ (Do you think taking care of someone is difficult?)"

"最近、誰かにお世話になりましたか？ (Have you been taken care of by someone recently?)"

Journal Prompts

今日、あなたが世話をしたことについて書いてください。 (Write about something you took care of today.)

将来、どんな人の世話をしたいですか？ (Who would you like to take care of in the future?)

ペットの世話をすることで学べることは何ですか？ (What can you learn from taking care of a pet?)

誰かにお世話になった時の感謝の気持ちを書きましょう。 (Write about your feelings of gratitude when someone took care of you.)

「世話を焼く」人と「放っておく」人、どちらが良いと思いますか？ (Which is better: someone who meddles or someone who leaves you alone?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, for machines or cars, use 'teire' (maintenance) or 'kanri' (management). 'Sewa' is for living things.

They are very similar. 'Mendo o miru' is slightly more casual and often implies 'watching over' someone younger or less experienced.

It's a set phrase meaning 'I am in your care' or 'Thank you for your support.' It's essential for polite business relations.

No, that would be rude. It sounds like you're asking them to be your nanny. Use 'onegai shimasu' for requests.

Usually, but 'sewa ga yakeru' means someone is a lot of trouble, and 'ookina osewa' means 'mind your own business'.

Don't use 'sewa'. Say 'Watashi ga haraimasu' (I'll pay) or 'Okaikei wa watashi ga' (The bill is on me).

In casual speech, people sometimes say 'sewasuru,' but 'sewa o suru' is grammatically correct and more common.

No, use 'teire' (care/maintenance) for hair or skin.

It's someone who loves helping others, but sometimes to the point of being meddlesome.

It is written as 世話. The first kanji means 'world' and the second means 'talk'.