Translation guide
In Japanese, paternity leave is most commonly expressed using the borrowed term 育休 (ikukyū) or the more specific 男性の育休 (dansei no ikukyū). The official legal term is 育児休業 (ikuji kyūgyō), but in everyday conversation, 育休 is standard. When the father is the one taking leave, it's often clarified with パパ (papa) or 男性 (dansei).
To refer to paternity leave in general, or to say that a father is taking leave to care for a child.
Short for 育児休業. This is the most common, everyday term for childcare leave, used for both mothers and fathers. To specify the father, you can say パパの育休 or 男性の育休.
Explicitly 'paternity leave' (literally 'male childcare leave'). Used when you need to distinguish from maternity leave.
男性の育休取得率はまだ低い。
The rate of men taking paternity leave is still low.
A casual, friendly term often used in media or by companies promoting paternity leave. 'Papa childcare leave'.
会社がパパ育休を推進している。
The company is promoting paternity leave.
The formal, legal term for childcare leave. Used in official documents and formal contexts.
育児休業を申請する。
Apply for childcare leave.
To express the action of taking paternity leave.
The standard verb phrase for taking childcare leave. Use 取る (とる) for 'take'.
来月から育休を取ります。
I'll take paternity leave from next month.
Literally 'enter childcare leave', used to describe starting the leave period.
彼は先週育休に入った。
He started his paternity leave last week.
To talk about the paternity leave system or policy in a company or country.
The childcare leave system. Often used when discussing benefits or legal frameworks.
この会社は育休制度が充実している。
This company has a good paternity leave system.
Specifically the paternity leave system.
男性育休制度の利用が増えている。
The use of the paternity leave system is increasing.
育休 (ikukyū) is childcare leave, which can be taken by either parent after the child is born. 産休 (sankyū) is maternity leave specifically for the mother before and after childbirth. Paternity leave is always 育休, never 産休.
妻は産休、夫は育休を取った。
The wife took maternity leave, and the husband took paternity leave.
In Japanese, 育休 alone is gender-neutral. If you need to clarify that it's the father taking leave, add 男性の (dansei no) or パパ (papa) before 育休. In context, it's often clear from the subject.