Japanese mini lessons: Everyday Words from Japanese Nursery Life
April is coming, and with it, a whole new chapter for many families in Japan.
If your child is about to start 保育園 (ほいくえん hoikuen, nursery school) for the first time, you’re probably preparing all kinds of things. Futons, name stickers, a change of clothes. But there’s something else worth preparing: the words.
Nursery schools in Japan come with their own vocabulary. Some words show up in official forms and emails. Others pop up in quick conversations during drop-off and pick-up, the kind where you’re half-listening while your child clings to your leg.
Let’s walk through them together, so that when April comes, they feel a little more familiar.
Getting Ready for Nursery
お布団（おふとん ofuton）
Futon for nap time. Most nurseries ask families to bring one from home. That said, some nurseries now use コット（cot）instead, a small elevated mesh bed that’s easier to keep clean.
お名前シール（おなまえシール onamae shiiru）
Name stickers. You’ll be putting these on everything.
お着替え（おきがえ okigae）
A change of clothes. Kids get messy. You’ll learn to keep extras on hand.
連絡帳（れんらくちょう renrakucho）
A communication notebook between parents and teachers. Teachers write about your child’s day, and you can leave messages in return. Traditionally a small paper notebook, though many nurseries have switched to a dedicated app.
Daily Life at Nursery
登園（とうえん tooen）
Going to nursery. You’ll often see this in the 連絡帳 or on the nursery app. 登園時間（とうえんじかん tooen jikan）= Arrival time
降園（こうえん kooen）
Leaving nursery. 降園時間（こうえんじかん kooen jikan）= Pick-up time
園庭（えんてい entei）
The nursery playground. Not every hoikuen has one, especially in big cities like Tokyo. When there’s no playground, children often go on short walks to nearby parks instead.
給食（きゅうしょく kyuushoku）
School lunch, prepared on-site by licensed cooks. The menus are carefully planned for nutritional balance, and seasonal ingredients are common. For many parents, knowing their child is eating a warm, freshly made, well-balanced meal brings a quiet sense of reassurance during a busy day.
お昼寝（おひるね ohirune）
Nap time. In official documents or schedules, you may see the more formal 午睡（ごすい gosui）instead.
おやつ（oyatsu）
Snack.
お片付け（おかたづけ okatazuke）
Tidying up. A daily routine at nursery, and a word your child will probably start using at home too.
読み聞かせ（よみきかせ yomikikase）
Story time.
制作（せいさく seisaku）
Crafting or arts and crafts.
トイトレ（toitore）
Short for toilet training. One of those words you hear constantly for a while, and then suddenly never again.
おむかえ（omukae）
Pick-up, when parents come to get their child.
子供を保育園に連れていく（こどもを ほいくえんに つれていく）
Taking your child to nursery.
子供を保育園に迎えに行く（こどもを ほいくえんに むかえにいく）
Going to pick your child up from nursery.
The Adjustment Period
One phrase you’ll hear a lot in April:
慣らし保育（ならしほいく narashi hoiku）
This is the gradual introduction to nursery life. At first, your child may stay only an hour or two. Little by little, they adjust to the new environment, and so do you.
It can feel slow. But it matters.
We hope this mini lesson makes those first nursery days feel a little less overwhelming.
If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in a future mini lesson, let us know. We’re always happy to hear what words and situations matter most in your daily life.
What’s Coming Up
📚 JLPT Prep Course (April–June) Our intensive 3-month reading and listening program is open for N1, N2, and N3 learners. If you’re preparing for the July test, this is your window.
For lesson inquiries, contact us anytime!
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