Translation guide
A room in a prison or similar facility where a person is kept alone, often as punishment or for security.
A cell where a prisoner is confined alone, typically for disciplinary reasons.
Standard term for a solitary confinement cell in a prison.
A room in a hospital or institution where a patient is kept alone to prevent infection or for safety.
The concept of being isolated in a small space, not necessarily in a formal institution.
A room where one is completely alone; can imply isolation but not necessarily a cell.
彼は独りきりの部屋で何日も過ごした。
He spent days in a room all by himself.
独房 specifically means a solitary confinement cell in a prison. For medical or psychiatric isolation, use 隔離室 or 保護室. For everyday isolation, describe the situation instead of using a single noun.
彼は独房に入れられた。
He was put in an isolation cell.
A protective custody cell, used to isolate a prisoner for their own safety rather than as punishment.
その囚人は保護房に移された。
The inmate was moved to a protective isolation cell.
A punishment cell; explicitly disciplinary isolation. Less common in everyday language, more technical.
規則を破ると懲罰房行きだ。
If you break the rules, you'll go to the punishment cell.
General term for an isolation room in medical contexts.
感染症の患者は隔離室に入院している。
The patient with the infectious disease is hospitalized in an isolation room.
Often used in psychiatric wards for a seclusion room where a patient is kept for their own or others' safety.
興奮した患者は保護室で落ち着いた。
The agitated patient calmed down in the seclusion room.
Japanese distinguishes between prison isolation (独房) and other types of isolation. Using 独房 for a non-prison setting would sound odd.
Do not use 独房 for non-prison isolation rooms.
彼は自宅の一室にこもって誰とも会わなかった。
He shut himself in a room at home and saw no one.