childcare

childcare — noun

1. the service of watching over and caring for young children while their parents h

1.名詞B1
釋義

the service of watching over and caring for young children while their parents have jobs or other daytime commitments, usually done by trained carers, nurseries, or relatives

例句

The hospital provides free childcare for nurses on overnight rotation.

collocation: free childcare

After Yara lost her job, she could no longer afford the childcare fees.

collocation: childcare fees

同義詞
  • babysitting

    usually one-off or short-term care in the child's home; less formal than childcare

  • daycare

    more common in American English; often refers to centre-based care during working hours

  • nursery

    a school-like setting with educational activities, typically for preschool children

  • childminding

    UK term for care provided by a registered person in their own home

用法筆記

Uncountable noun, so it is not used with the indefinite article 'a' (❌ 'a childcare'). Frequent modifiers include 'free', 'affordable', 'good-quality'. In British English, 'childminder' refers to someone who looks after other people's children in their own home.

常見錯誤

❌We need a good childcare near our house.
✅We need good childcare near our house.
💡childcare is uncountable; drop the article or say 'a good childcare centre/provider.'
❌My mother helps with childcare for my elderly father.
✅My mother helps with childcare for my children.
💡childcare refers specifically to looking after children, not adults.