When you hear 世話 (sewa), think about the act of taking care of someone or looking after them. It's often used when talking about the help or support given to a person, an animal, or even a plant.
For example, if you're taking care of a child, that's 世話. If you're looking after an elderly parent, that's also 世話. It can also refer to the general effort put into maintaining something or someone's well-being.
You'll frequently hear it in phrases like 世話をする (sewa o suru), meaning 'to take care of' or 'to look after'.
It carries a nuance of responsibility and active involvement in someone's welfare. Think of it as providing attentive care, rather than just passive observation.
Alright, let's talk about 世話 (sewa). You've learned it means 'care' or 'looking after someone.' That's a good start, but like many Japanese words, there are nuances that can trip you up. Here are the most common mistakes I see English speakers make with 世話, and how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Using 世話 for general 'care' (like caring about something)
The biggest mistake is thinking 世話 can be used for any kind of 'care' you'd use in English. It can't. 世話 is specifically about *providing* care or looking after a person, animal, or sometimes a plant. It's an active verb or noun relating to physical or practical assistance, not an emotional state of 'caring about' something.
- Wrong Usage Example
- 日本語の勉強について世話しています。(Incorrect for "I care about studying Japanese.")
§ Mistake 2: Forgetting the gratitude/obligation aspect
While 世話 simply means 'care,' when someone 世話をする (sewa o suru - provides care) for you, there's often an implicit sense of gratitude or obligation. This is especially true when using phrases like お世話になります (osewa ni narimasu) or お世話になりました (osewa ni narimashita). These aren't just polite greetings; they acknowledge the help or care you've received.
いつもお世話になっております。 (Thank you for always taking care of me/assisting me.)
部長には大変お世話になりました。 (My boss really looked after me/helped me a lot.)
You wouldn't use this phrase if no actual 'care' or assistance was provided. It's not a generic 'nice to meet you' or 'goodbye.'
§ Mistake 3: Confusing it with 介護 (kaigo) or 世話焼き (sewayaki)
While related, 世話 is distinct from some other care-related words:
- 介護 (kaigo): This refers specifically to nursing care, especially for the elderly or infirm. It's a more formal and professional type of care. While 介護 involves 世話, not all 世話 is 介護.
- 世話焼き (sewayaki): This is a noun for a busybody or a person who likes to take care of others, sometimes to an excessive degree. It describes a personality trait, not the act of caring itself.
- Correct Usage Examples
- 子どもの世話をする。(To take care of children.)
- Correct Usage Examples
- 犬の世話をする。(To take care of a dog.)
- Correct Usage Examples
- 植物の世話をする。(To take care of plants.)
By understanding these distinctions, you'll use 世話 much more accurately and naturally. Keep practicing with examples, and you'll get it right.
The Japanese word 世話 (sewa) means 'care' or 'looking after someone'. It's a common word, but Japanese has several words that can also translate to 'care' in English. Understanding the nuances will help you choose the right word.
§ 世話 (sewa)
世話 (sewa) is often used for the practical, day-to-day care of someone or something. It implies a degree of effort and responsibility, often for a prolonged period. It can be used for people, pets, or even plants. It also carries a nuance of providing support or looking out for someone's well-being.
- Common phrases with 世話
-
- 世話をする (sewa o suru): to take care of, to look after
- 世話になる (sewa ni naru): to be taken care of, to receive help/care
- 世話が焼ける (sewa ga yakeru): to be a handful, to require a lot of care (often with a slightly exasperated tone)
彼女は病気の母親の世話をしている。
She is taking care of her sick mother.
いつもお世話になっております。
Thank you for always taking care of me / for your continued support (polite business greeting).
§ Similar words and when to use them
Let's look at other words that might seem similar but have different nuances.
- 介護 (kaigo)
-
This specifically refers to nursing care, often for elderly or disabled people who need assistance with daily activities like eating, bathing, and moving. It's a more professional and intensive type of care than 世話.
彼は高齢者の介護の仕事をしている。
He works in elderly nursing care.
- 看病 (kanbyou)
-
This term refers to nursing a sick person back to health. It's focused on care during an illness or recovery period.
妻が病気の時、私が看病した。
When my wife was sick, I nursed her.
- 保護 (hogo)
-
This means 'protection' or 'safeguarding'. While care can involve protection, 保護 emphasizes keeping someone or something safe from harm, rather than just providing daily maintenance.
彼は子供を危険から保護した。
He protected the child from danger.
- 面倒 (mendou)
-
This word is tricky because it can mean 'trouble' or 'difficulty'. However, in phrases like 面倒を見る (mendou o miru), it means to 'look after' or 'take care of', similar to 世話をする. The nuance with 面倒を見る is that it often implies a bit more burden or effort. While 世話 can be a positive act, 面倒を見る might carry a hint that the care is a bit troublesome, though still necessary.
私は弟の面倒をよく見ていた。
I used to look after my younger brother a lot.
§ Summary: When to use 世話
世話 (sewa) is your go-to word for general, ongoing care and looking after someone or something, often implying personal involvement and responsibility. For specific types of care like nursing the elderly (介護) or the sick (看病), or for protection (保護), use those more specific terms. When the care feels a bit burdensome, 面倒を見る is an option, but 世話 is generally more neutral and widely applicable for everyday care.
需要掌握的语法
世話をする (sewa o suru): To take care of, to look after. This is the most common verb phrase used with 世話.
子どもたちの世話をする (kodomo-tachi no sewa o suru): To look after the children.
世話になる (sewa ni naru): To be taken care of, to be indebted to someone's kindness. Often used when expressing gratitude.
いろいろお世話になりました (iroiro osewa ni narimashita): Thank you for everything (lit. I was taken care of in many ways).
世話をかける (sewa o kakeru): To cause trouble or inconvenience to someone by needing their care/help. Often used when apologizing.
ご迷惑と世話をかけて申し訳ありません (go-meiwaku to sewa o kakete mōshiwake arimasen): I'm sorry for causing you trouble and inconvenience.
世話が焼ける (sewa ga yakeru): To be a handful, to be troublesome to look after. Often used in a slightly exasperated but sometimes affectionate way.
あの子は本当に世話が焼けるね (ano ko wa hontō ni sewa ga yakeru ne): That child is really a handful, isn't he/she?
世話好き (sewazuki): A person who likes to take care of others, a helpful person.
彼女は世話好きで、いつもみんなの面倒を見ている (kanojo wa sewazuki de, itsumo minna no mendō o mite iru): She's very helpful and always looks after everyone.
按水平分级的例句
子どもの世話は大変です。
Raising children is tough.
犬の世話を毎日します。
I take care of my dog every day.
友達が病気の時、世話をしました。
When my friend was sick, I looked after them.
お年寄りの世話をする仕事です。
It's a job taking care of the elderly.
彼の世話になっています。
He helps me a lot. (Literally: I am in his care.)
猫の世話をお願いします。
Please take care of my cat.
植物の世話は好きです。
I like looking after plants.
世話を焼く必要はありません。
There's no need to fuss over it. (Literally: There is no need to burn care.)
いつもお世話になっております。
Thank you for your continuous support/help.
A common formal greeting in business or when someone has been helping you regularly.
子供の世話は大変だけど、やりがいがある。
Taking care of children is tough, but rewarding.
「〜は大変だけど」is a common phrase to express something is difficult but with a positive outcome.
病気の母の世話をするため、仕事を辞めた。
I quit my job to look after my sick mother.
「〜の世話をする」means 'to take care of ~' or 'to look after ~'.
ペットの世話を友人に頼んだ。
I asked my friend to look after my pet.
「〜に頼む」means 'to ask ~ for a favor'.
彼は困っている人を世話するのが好きだ。
He likes taking care of people in need.
「困っている人」means 'people who are in trouble' or 'people in need'.
この植物はあまり世話がかからない。
This plant doesn't require much care.
「世話がかかる」means 'to require care' or 'to be a lot of trouble to look after'.
彼女はボランティアとして老人ホームで世話をしている。
She volunteers, looking after people at the nursing home.
「〜として」means 'as a ~'.
新しい環境に慣れるまで、彼がいろいろと世話をしてくれた。
He helped me out a lot until I got used to the new environment.
「いろいろと世話をする」means 'to take care of various things' or 'to help out in many ways'.
自我测试 42 个问题
いつもお___になっています。
「お世話になっています」は、日頃の感謝を表す丁寧な挨拶です。ビジネスシーンなどでよく使われます。
彼は病気の祖母の___をしています。
「世話をする」は、誰かの面倒を見る、介護するという意味で使われます。
ペットの___は大変ですが、とても楽しいです。
ペットの飼育全般を指して「ペットの世話」と言います。
部長には、いつも何かと___になっています。
「何かと世話になっている」は、色々な面で助けてもらっているというニュアンスです。
近所の方々には、子供たちの___でお世話になっています。
子供たちの面倒を見てもらっていることに対して感謝する際に使われます。
このプロジェクトでは、あなたの___が必要です。
この文脈では「世話」は「助け」や「助力」に近い意味合いで使われます。
Listen for the noun related to 'care' or 'looking after'.
The speaker is talking about caring for someone who is ill. What is the key noun?
This is a common polite phrase. What does 'お世話' mean in this context?
Read this aloud:
いつもお世話になっております。
Focus: o-se-wa ni nat-te o-ri-masu
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
ペットの世話は楽しいです。
Focus: pet-to no se-wa wa ta-no-shii desu
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
お世話をかけますが、よろしくお願いします。
Focus: o-se-wa o ka-ke-masu ga, yo-ro-shi-ku o-ne-gai shi-masu
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
彼女は病気の友人の___をしました。
「世話」は「面倒を見る」という意味です。友人が病気なので、その人の面倒を見たという文脈が適切です。
小さい子供の___は大変ですが、やりがいがあります。
「小さい子供」に対しては「世話」をするのが一般的です。大変だがやりがいがあるという状況にも合致します。
困っている人がいたら、積極的に___をするべきです。
「困っている人」に対しては「世話をする」ことが適切な行動です。「積極的に」という言葉からも助けるという意味合いが読み取れます。
「世話」は、主に自分のことに対して使う言葉である。
「世話」は、他人や動物、植物など、自分以外のものの面倒を見ることに使われる言葉です。
赤ちゃんのおむつを替えることは「世話」の一つである。
赤ちゃんのお世話は、おむつを替えたり、ミルクをあげたりと、多岐にわたります。
ペットを飼う人は、そのペットの「世話」をする責任がある。
ペットを飼うということは、その動物の食事や健康管理など、あらゆる面で「世話」をする義務を伴います。
This is a common polite phrase used in business or when someone has been helpful to you over time.
The speaker is talking about the effort and reward of raising children.
The speaker wants to express gratitude for the help they received.
Read this aloud:
いつもお世話になっております。
Focus: o-se-wa ni nat-te o-ri-ma-su
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
ペットの世話をするのは楽しいです。
Focus: pet-to no se-wa wo su-ru no wa ta-no-shii desu
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
ご迷惑をおかけして、大変お世話になりました。
Focus: go-mei-wa-ku wo o-ka-ke shi-te, tai-hen o-se-wa ni na-ri-ma-shi-ta
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This is a common way to express gratitude for someone's care or help. 'いつも' (always) and 'ありがとう' (thank you) frame the appreciation for '私の世話をしてくれて' (for looking after me).
This sentence expresses that while childcare ('子供の世話') is difficult ('大変ですが'), it is also very rewarding ('本当にやりがいがあります').
This sentence translates to 'I like taking care of animals.' '動物の世話をする' means 'to take care of animals'.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼の病気の間、私が彼の___をした。
「世話をする」は「面倒を見る」という意味の一般的な表現です。病気の人の場合は特にこの言葉が適切です。 'Sewa o suru' is a common expression meaning 'to take care of'. It's especially appropriate for someone who is ill.
Which sentence correctly uses 「世話」 in the context of asking for a favor or help?
「いつもお世話になっております」は、日頃の援助や配慮に感謝する丁寧な挨拶です。ビジネスシーンや日常生活で頻繁に使われます。 'Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu' is a polite greeting used to express gratitude for ongoing help or consideration. It's frequently used in business and daily life.
When someone is helping you find a new job or housing, what phrase would you most likely hear or use?
「世話になる」は、誰かの援助や世話を受けるという意味で使われます。新しい仕事や住まいを探している状況で、助けてもらっている場合によく使われます。 'Sewa ni naru' means to receive someone's help or care. It's often used when someone is helping you, for example, with finding a new job or housing.
The phrase 「世話を焼く」 (sewa o yaku) means to be overly helpful, often to the point of being meddlesome.
「世話を焼く」は、頼まれてもいないのに余計な口出しをしたり、手助けをしたりして、かえって迷惑になるような行動を指します。 'Sewa o yaku' refers to being overly helpful or meddlesome, often to the point of causing annoyance, even when not asked for assistance.
You can use 「世話」 to refer to the care of inanimate objects like plants or pets.
「世話」は、人だけでなく、植物や動物などの面倒を見る場合にも使われます。例：「植物の世話をする」「ペットの世話をする」。 'Sewa' can be used not only for people but also for taking care of plants or animals. For example, 'shokubutsu no sewa o suru' (to take care of plants) or 'petto no sewa o suru' (to take care of pets).
When someone says 「世話がない」 (sewa ga nai), they are expressing that something is a lot of trouble and requires much care.
「世話がない」は、「手がかからない」「心配する必要がない」という意味で、むしろ手間がかからない状況を表します。例えば、自立していて手がかからない子どもに対して使われることがあります。 'Sewa ga nai' means 'no trouble' or 'no need to worry', indicating a situation that requires little effort. For example, it can be used for an independent child who doesn't require much attention.
彼女は病気の母親の___を焼いた。 (She took care of her sick mother.)
「世話を焼く」は「面倒を見る」という意味の慣用句です。
近所の人に庭の水の___をお願いしました。 (I asked my neighbor to look after watering the garden.)
「水の世話」は「水やり」を丁寧に言う表現です。
彼はいつも困っている人を___しています。 (He always helps those in need.)
「世話をする」は「手助けをする」「面倒を見る」という意味です。
退職後は地域活動の___になるつもりです。 (After retirement, I plan to get involved in community activities.)
「世話役」は「世話をする人」「世話をする係」という意味です。
いつもお___になっております。 (Thank you for always taking care of me.)
「お世話になっております」は、ビジネスシーンなどでよく使われる丁寧な挨拶で、「いつもお世話になりありがとうございます」という意味です。
新入社員の___は、先輩社員が担当します。 (Senior employees are in charge of mentoring new employees.)
「新入社員の世話」は、新入社員の面倒を見たり、助けたりすることを指します。
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
例句
彼女は病気の母の世話をしている。
相关内容
更多family词汇
還暦
B160th birthday (celebration of completing a 60-year cycle).
〜くらい
B1About; approximately; to the extent that.
認め合う
B1To recognize each other's worth; to acknowledge.
知人
B1Acquaintance.
顔見知り
A2Acquaintance; someone you know by sight.
甘える
B1To be spoiled, to fawn; to behave like a pampered child.
活発な
B1Active; lively; vigorous.
思春期
B1Adolescence; the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
養子
B1Adopted child; a child taken into one's family by legal means.
養親
B2Adoptive parent.
