ひきこもり

• 読み: ひきこもり
• ローマ字: hikikomori
• 発音: /çi.ki.ko.mo.ɾi/

意味

Social withdrawal; recluse; hikikomori. A condition or person characterised by severe and prolonged withdrawal from social life and confinement to home.

Derived from the verb 引きこもる (to shut oneself in). Japan's Ministry of Health defines 引きこもり as not participating in social activities for at least six months. It is a significant social issue in Japan, affecting an estimated one million people. The term has been adopted internationally as 'hikikomori' in psychological and sociological literature. Distinct from introversion or shyness; it refers to a clinical-level withdrawal that disrupts daily functioning.

例文

1. 彼は大学受験の失敗をきっかけにひきこもりとなり、三年間自室から出なかった。
2. ひきこもりの問題は本人だけでなく、家族全体に深刻な影響を与える。
3. 近年ではひきこもり支援のためのアウトリーチプログラムが各地で整備されつつある。

使い方ガイド

場面: social issues, mental health, youth policy, family, sociology

トーン: neutral to serious

起源と歴史

From the verb 引きこもる: 引き (hiki — pulling) + こもる (komoru — to shut oneself in, to be confined). The nominalised form ひきこもり emerged as a clinical and social term in the 1990s, gaining widespread recognition following media coverage of Japan's economic stagnation and youth unemployment issues.

文化的背景

時代: Heisei-Reiwa

世代: Youth to Middle-aged

社会的背景: Universal