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.
He has been a shut-in for years.
I lead a life where I tend to stay indoors.
Kana-only spelling, often used in casual or informal contexts.
My son is a shut-in and never comes out of his room.
Kanji variant using 籠, less common but seen in some contexts.
He continues his shut-in lifestyle.
To describe the phenomenon or condition of social withdrawal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The number of socially withdrawn youth is increasing.
I'm a homebody, so I don't go out much.
I'm such a homebody that I don't step outside at all on my days off.
He holes up in his room all day playing games.
Ever since I lost my job, I've been shutting myself in.