Translation guide
Describes a person who rarely leaves their home, often due to social anxiety or lifestyle preference. Japanese has specific terms for this phenomenon, ranging from clinical to casual.
To refer to someone who avoids social contact and rarely leaves their house, often for an extended period.
The standard term for a social recluse or shut-in. Can be used as a noun or with する to describe the state.
彼は何年も引きこもりだ。
He has been a shut-in for years.
引きこもりがちな生活を送っている。
I lead a life where I tend to stay indoors.
Kana-only spelling, often used in casual or informal contexts.
うちの息子はひきこもりで、部屋から出てこない。
My son is a shut-in and never comes out of his room.
Kanji variant using 籠, less common but seen in some contexts.
彼は引き籠もり生活を続けている。
He continues his shut-in lifestyle.
To describe the phenomenon or condition of social withdrawal.
Also used as a noun for the condition itself.
引きこもりは現代社会の大きな問題だ。
Social withdrawal is a major issue in modern society.
Explicitly 'social withdrawal', often used in formal or academic contexts.
社会的ひきこもりの若者が増えている。
The number of socially withdrawn youth is increasing.
To describe someone who simply prefers staying home, often for hobbies or comfort, without the negative connotation of social withdrawal.
Literally 'indoor type', a casual and positive/neutral term for someone who prefers staying inside.
私は完全なインドア派で、休日は家でゲームをしています。
I'm a total indoor person; I spend my days off playing games at home.
A cute, casual way to say someone loves being at home. Often used by younger people.
おうち好きだから、外出はあまりしない。
I'm a homebody, so I don't go out much.
Describes someone who finds going out bothersome; a homebody. Slightly self-deprecating or humorous.
To express the action of confining oneself indoors or in a room.
To shut oneself up at home. A common verb phrase.
週末はずっと家に閉じこもっていた。
I stayed shut in at home all weekend.
To stay holed up in one's room. Often implies avoiding others.
彼は一日中部屋にこもってゲームをしている。
He holes up in his room all day playing games.
The verb form of 引きこもり. To withdraw from society and stay indoors.
引きこもり often carries a negative or clinical connotation of social withdrawal and may imply a problem. インドア派 is a neutral/positive self-description for someone who prefers indoor activities. 出不精 is a light-hearted, self-deprecating term for someone who finds going out a hassle.
私はインドア派ですが、引きこもりではありません。
I'm an indoor person, but I'm not a shut-in.
The English 'shut-in' can be translated directly as 閉じ込められた人, but this means someone physically confined against their will, not a social recluse. Use 引きこもり for the social phenomenon.
I'm such a homebody that I don't step outside at all on my days off.
失業してから、ずっと引きこもっている。
Ever since I lost my job, I've been shutting myself in.