Difference in usage/nuance between 厚生, 福祉, 福利 and 生活保護


厚生［こうせい］  
福祉［ふくし］  
福利［ふくり］  
生活保護［せいかつほご］

Translating "welfare" into Japanese seems a bit complicated. Could someone
maybe provide for context the most typical phrases/chunks that use these
words?

I'm aware that 厚生 is used in the name of the Ministry for Health, Labour and
Welfare (厚生労働省), but am a bit confused as to why it isn't 福祉, for example.




### 厚生, 福祉 and 福利

First of all, 福利 and 厚生 are almost outdated words except in legal terms or a
combination of 福利厚生 ("[fringe
benefits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_benefit)" according to WP).
福祉 is the most common word covers "welfare" in every situation today.

福利 particularly refers to benefits or services one can gain from welfare
system. And 厚生 literally means "fulfilled life" or "life enrichment" (or "high
QoL" if you prefer), which is used as a fancy word in place of "welfare", much
as like we call the judicial administration "Department of Justice".

### 生活保護

It's a proper name given to Japanese social welfare program officially
translated as "[Public
Assistance](http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail_main?vm=&id=24)".
You cannot consider this as a term indicates any kind of generic welfare
systems.

**EDIT**  
A general term translates "public assistance" or "social assistance" seems to
be 公的扶助.




### 厚生, 福祉 and 福利

First of all, 福利 and 厚生 are almost outdated words except in legal terms or a
combination of 福利厚生 ("[fringe
benefits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_benefit)" according to WP).
福祉 is the most common word covers "welfare" in every situation today.

福利 particularly refers to benefits or services one can gain from welfare
system. And 厚生 literally means "fulfilled life" or "life enrichment" (or "high
QoL" if you prefer), which is used as a fancy word in place of "welfare", much
as like we call the judicial administration "Department of Justice".

### 生活保護

It's a proper name given to Japanese social welfare program officially
translated as "[Public
Assistance](http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail_main?vm=&id=24)".
You cannot consider this as a term indicates any kind of generic welfare
systems.

**EDIT**  
A general term translates "public assistance" or "social assistance" seems to
be 公的扶助.

