養います（やしないます、yashinaimasu）
- to foster

The Japanese verb 養います 養います means "to raise," "to bring up," "to nurture," "to support," or "to provide for." It implies caring for someone or something, often over a period of time, and ensuring their well-being. This can refer to raising children, animals, or even plants. It also extends to providing financial support or sustenance. The specific nuance depends on the context, but the core idea revolves around care and provision. The word suggests a sustained effort to ensure growth, health, and survival.

⚫︎ 子供を養います Translation: I raise/bring up my children. ⚫︎ 犬を養います Translation: I take care of/keep a dog. ⚫︎ 家族を養います Translation: I support my family.

⚫︎ 養います 養います is used in various situations where there is an element of care and support. ⚫︎ It's common when talking about raising children, mentioning pets, or discussing financial support. ⚫︎ You can use it in formal and informal conversations. ⚫︎ When discussing raising children, use it to convey the dedication and effort in bringing them up. ⚫︎ When discussing pets, it conveys your responsibility for the animal's wellbeing. ⚫︎ When discussing financial support, this conveys the act of providing for someone.

⚫︎ The word is written in Kanji as 養and the polite form is 養います 養います. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is やしないます. ⚫︎ The kanji 養 combines elements related to "raising," "nourishing," and "cultivating." ⚫︎ The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is います and it always remains the same.

⚫︎ 育てる (sodateru): To raise (children, plants, animals) - focuses more on growth and development. ⚫︎ 世話をする (sewa o suru): To take care of - a more general term for looking after something. ⚫︎ 扶養する (fuyou suru): To support financially - more formal and specifically about financial support. ⚫︎ 飼う (kau): To keep (an animal) - specifically for pets or livestock.

⚫︎ There isn't a direct single antonym for 養います 養います. The opposite would depend on the context. ⚫︎ For "raising a child," an antonym might be "neglect," though this would not use a single verb. ⚫︎ For "supporting financially," the opposite might be "to not provide" or "to cease support."

両親は私を愛情を持って養いました ・Translation: My parents raised me with love. ・Explanation: This sentence conveys the loving care and support the parents provided to the speaker.

会社は家族を養うために、安定した収入を提供します ・Translation: The company provides a stable income to support my family. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the company's role in ensuring the speaker’s family has financial stability.

⚫︎ The kanji 養 is composed of the radical 羊 (sheep, a symbol of gentleness and care) and the character 食 (food). ⚫︎ Together, they suggest feeding and caring for something, thus embodying the meaning of raising or supporting. ⚫︎ The etymology hints at the original meaning of providing sustenance and care for living beings, a concept central to the meaning of 養います 養います.