Translation guide
The English word 'feeding' covers several distinct situations: giving food to people or animals, the act of eating (especially for animals or infants), supplying material into a machine, and specialized uses like breastfeeding or tube feeding. Japanese uses different words depending on who is being fed, the relationship, and the context.
The act of providing food to another person, often involving direct help with eating.
Common term in caregiving contexts for assisting someone with eating. Used for elderly care, hospital settings, or disability support.
病院で食事介助のボランティアをしています。
I volunteer with feeding assistance at the hospital.
The most direct and common way to say 'feed someone' in daily conversation. Used for feeding children, pets, or anyone who needs help.
赤ちゃんに離乳食を食べさせる。
Feed the baby solid food.
病気の友達にスープを食べさせた。
I fed soup to my sick friend.
Technical term for feeding, used in animal husbandry, laboratory settings, or formal care plans. Not used in everyday conversation.
Providing meals to animals, whether pets, livestock, or wildlife.
Standard expression for feeding animals. 'やる' is casual but widely used for pets and animals. Can sound rough if used for people.
犬に餌をやるのを忘れないで。
Don't forget to feed the dog.
池の鯉に餌をやった。
I fed the carp in the pond.
Referring to the process of consuming food, typically by animals or infants.
Biological/medical term for ingestion or feeding behavior. Used for animals and humans in scientific contexts.
The specific act of feeding a baby with breast milk.
The standard term for breastfeeding. Used in medical, parenting, and everyday contexts.
Inserting or providing something (paper, fuel, data) into a device for processing.
Providing nutrition through a tube directly into the stomach or veins.
Medical term for tube feeding. Covers nasogastric, gastrostomy, etc.
経管栄養が必要な患者さんがいます。
There are patients who require tube feeding.
While 食べさせる can technically be used for animals, 餌をやる is much more natural. Using 食べさせる for pets sounds like you are forcing them to eat.
Both mean 'feed an animal'. やる is casual and can sound rough; あげる is more polite and caring. Use あげる when speaking politely or about someone else's pet.
Feeding of livestock is twice a day.
A slightly more polite version of '餌をやる'. 'あげる' implies giving with a sense of care or respect, often used for pets.
猫に餌をあげました。
I fed the cat.
Technical term for feeding animals, especially in farming or scientific contexts.
養鶏場では自動給餌機を使っている。
The poultry farm uses automatic feeders.
摂食障害は深刻な問題です。
Eating disorders are a serious problem.
General nominalization meaning 'eating'. Can be used for animals or babies, but less specific than 'feeding'.
赤ちゃんの食べることを見守る。
Watch over the baby's feeding.
Specifically refers to suckling or milk feeding in mammals. Used for breastfeeding or bottle-feeding infants.
哺乳瓶で哺乳する。
Feed with a baby bottle.
授乳中はバランスの良い食事が大切です。
A balanced diet is important while breastfeeding.
Colloquial phrase meaning 'to give breast milk'. Softer and more personal than 授乳.
赤ちゃんに母乳をあげる時間です。
It's time to breastfeed the baby.
Broader term for milk feeding, including bottle-feeding. Often used in compounds like 哺乳瓶 (baby bottle).
哺乳の間隔は三時間おきです。
Feeding intervals are every three hours.
General term for supply or feeding of materials, fuel, power, etc. Used in technical and everyday contexts.
プリンターに紙を供給する。
Feed paper into the printer.
Means 'input' or 'throw in'. Used for feeding coins, materials, or data into a machine.
自動販売機にコインを投入する。
Feed coins into the vending machine.
Literally 'send into'. Used for feeding material continuously into a machine or process.
木材を製材機に送り込む。
Feed lumber into the sawmill.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'send nutrition through a tube'. Easier to understand in non-medical conversation.
チューブで栄養を送っています。
We are feeding through a tube.