孤食

• Reading: こしょく
• Romaji: koshoku
• Kanji breakdown: 孤 (ko) — alone, isolated; 食 (shoku) — eat, food
• Pronunciation: /ko.ɕo.kɯ/

Meaning

Eating alone; solitary meals. The practice or phenomenon of eating without the company of others.

A modern sociological concept in Japan highlighting the breakdown of shared mealtimes, particularly among children eating dinner without family, elderly people living alone, and urban workers eating at their desks. 孤食 is discussed as an indicator of social isolation and fragmentation of family and community bonds. It contrasts with 共食 (kyoushoku), eating together, which is emphasised in nutrition and welfare policy.

Examples

1. 子どもの孤食が増加していることは、家族の絆の希薄化を示す指標のひとつだ。 The increase in children eating dinner alone is one indicator of the weakening of family bonds.
2. 一人暮らしの高齢者が孤食になりがちな問題に対応するため、地域の食事会が開かれている。 Community dining groups have been set up to address the problem of elderly people living alone tending to eat in isolation.
3. 孤食が習慣化すると、食生活の乱れや精神的な孤立につながりやすい。 When eating alone becomes habitual, it can easily lead to a disordered diet and a sense of social isolation.

Usage Guide

Context: sociology, nutrition, welfare, family policy

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 孤 (ko, alone, isolated) and 食 (shoku, eat, food). The term gained currency in Japanese social welfare and nutrition discourse from the 1980s onward as urbanisation and changing family structures disrupted communal eating patterns.

Cultural Context

Era: Shōwa–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal