Translation guide
How to express the idea of staying indoors in Japanese, from simply being at home to deliberately not going out.
I'm staying indoors today.
I stayed home all day.
To say that someone is staying at home or inside a building, often for a period of time.
The most basic and natural way to say 'stay at home' or 'be at home'. It simply states the location.
I plan to stay home all day today.
On rainy days, staying home is best.
Implies shutting oneself in at home, often for a long time or with a sense of seclusion. Can have a slightly negative nuance of being a shut-in.
Literally 'be indoors'. More formal and used in written contexts or announcements, not common in casual speech.
To express the choice or habit of not going out, often socially or for leisure.
Directly means 'not go out'. Neutral and widely used.
On weekends I don't go out; I watch movies at home.
Literally 'not leave the house'. Emphasizes the boundary of the home.
Refers to withdrawing from society and staying indoors, often associated with social withdrawal (hikikomori). Stronger and more specific than just staying in.
To express staying indoors because of bad weather, illness, or external reasons.
家にいる is neutral and simply means 'be at home'. 家にこもる implies staying inside for a long time, often with a nuance of seclusion or reluctance to go out. Use こもる when you want to emphasize shutting yourself in.
I'm often at home on my days off.
He shuts himself in his room and does nothing but play games.
The English word 'stay' is sometimes used in Japanese as ステイ, but it is not natural for 'staying indoors'. Stick to native Japanese expressions like 家にいる.
I prefer staying indoors on cold days.
She's been staying indoors since she caught a cold.
He tends to stay shut in at home since he lost his job.
Please stay indoors during the daytime to prevent heatstroke.
Yesterday I didn't step outside the house at all.
He has been shut in his room for years.
With this much snow, we have no choice but to stay home.