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引きこもり (hikikomori) Japanese meaning: shut-in | Kotomora
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He has been a shut-in ever since he dropped out of high school.
Organizations that support young hikikomori are increasing.
Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 引ひ きこもりになる for someone to become a shut-in
He became a shut-in after dropping out of high school.
引ひ きこもりの 生せい 活かつ a shut-in lifestyle
She has continued a shut-in lifestyle for five years.
引ひ きこもりから 抜ぬ け 出だ す to break out of being a shut-in
Through counseling, he gradually broke out of being a shut-in.
Kanji 篭 seclude oneself, cage, coop 籠 basket, devote oneself, seclude oneself Related words 不登校 specifically means not attending school, usually said of children, while 引きこもり is broader and often describes adults who stay home and avoid society.
孤立 means being isolated or cut off from others emotionally or socially, whereas 引きこもり specifically implies physically staying shut in at home.
引きこもり describes someone who withdraws from society and rarely leaves home, a more serious or clinical term, while カウチポテト is a lighthearted label for someone who lazily watches lots of TV.
Don't confuse with ニート refers to a person not in education, employment, or training, while 引きこもり specifically emphasizes withdrawing from social contact and staying home, regardless of job status.
引きこもり describes someone who has withdrawn from social contact and rarely leaves home, while ニート focuses on economic status (not working/studying/training) regardless of social withdrawal.
Written forms 引ひ きこもり Usage 56%
Standard spelling; the most common written form.
ひきこもり Usage 42%
Kana spelling; common in informal writing and when the kanji is not needed.
引ひ き 篭こ もり Usage 1%
Alternate kanji form using 篭; less common but seen.
引ひ き 籠こ もり Usage 1%
Etymology Compound of 引き (hiki, continuative form of 引く 'to pull') + こもり (komori, continuative form of 籠もる 'to shut oneself in'). Literally 'pulling in and shutting oneself in'.
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form with 籠.
