In Chinese culture, 抚养 (fǔyǎng) is not just a personal choice but a deeply ingrained social and moral obligation. It forms one half of a fundamental parent-child relationship defined by responsibility. Parents have the duty to 抚养 their children, and in return, children have the duty to 赡养 (shànyǎng) — to support their parents in old age. This dynamic is a cornerstone of filial piety (孝顺, xiàoshùn), a core Confucian value. Compared to the Western concept of “raising a child,” which often emphasizes fostering independence as the primary goal, 抚养 carries a heavier weight of sacrifice and long-term reciprocal duty. While independence is also valued, the parent-child bond forged through 抚养 is seen as a lifelong connection of mutual obligation and gratitude. The term implies a debt of love and effort that a child is expected to repay through respect and care later in life. It's less of a temporary phase and more of a permanent entry into a generational contract.
抚养 (fǔyǎng) is a formal term, most commonly encountered in specific contexts.
It is generally not used in casual, everyday conversation about childcare tasks. You wouldn't use it to say you're “looking after” your kids for the afternoon. For that, you'd use 照顾 (zhàogù).