How to Say "Orphanage" in Japanese

孤児院

kojiin[ko̞ʑiĩɴ]

The Japanese word for "orphanage" is 孤児院 (kojiin).

The term refers to a residential institution used for the care and protection of orphans.

Meaning: a residential institution for the care and protection of orphans (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

kojiin

The character 院 in 孤児院 is used for many types of institutions, including hospitals 病院 and universities 大学院. It suggests a place of specialized care or high-level administration.
In modern Japanese social welfare contexts, the term 孤児院 is often replaced by more modern terms like 児童養護施設 (child welfare facility) to avoid the heavy or archaic connotations of the word 'orphan'.
The component 孤 (ko) in 孤児院 means 'lonely' or 'solitary', which highlights the emotional state of the person rather than just their legal status.

トムはメアリーと同じ孤児院で育った。
Tom grew up in the same orphanage as Mary.
This example shows how to use the form 孤児院 when talking about growing up in an institution.
Tatoeba #11621995 by bunbuku, translation #6810386 by CK
僕たちはみんな、同じ孤児院で育ったんだ。
We all grew up in the same orphanage.
This example uses the form 孤児院 to describe a group of people who grew up in the same place.
Tatoeba #12393575 by bunbuku, translation #10566706 by CK
その孤児院は街の近くにあります。
Sono kojiin wa machi no chikaku ni arimasu.
That orphanage is near the town.
1 more sentence on Tatoeba

A boy and a girl are discussing a historical setting in a book.

陽葵 Himari

この物語の舞台は孤児院なの？
Kono monogatari no butai wa kojiin na no?
Is the setting of this story an orphanage?
陽太 Yota

そうだよ、陽葵。とても切ない話なんだ。
Sou da yo, Himari. Totemo setsunai hanashi nan da.
That's right, Himari. It is a very sad story.
陽葵 Himari

陽太君は、その本を読んだの？
Houta-kun wa, sono hon o yonda no?
Houta, have you read that book?
陽太 Yota

うん、昨日読み終わったよ。
Un, kinou yomiowatta yo.
Yeah, I finished reading it yesterday.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏