立て籠もる

• Reading: たてこもる
• Romaji: tatekomoru
• Kanji breakdown: 立 (ritsu/ta) — to stand, erect | 籠 (rou/ko) — basket, cage, to be confined
• Pronunciation: /ta.te.ko.mo.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To barricade oneself in; to hole up; to shut oneself in and refuse to come out.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from 立てる (to set up, to erect) and 籠もる (to shut oneself in, to be confined). It describes the act of fortifying a position and refusing to leave or surrender — used literally for hostage situations, sieges, and protests (occupying a building), and figuratively for a person refusing to come out of their room or engage with the outside world.

Examples

1. 武装した男が銀行に立て籠もり、警察は数時間にわたって説得を続けた。 An armed man barricaded himself inside a bank, and police spent several hours trying to talk him out.
2. 引きこもりの息子は自室に立て籠もったまま、親とも口をきこうとしなかった。 The hikikomori son remained barricaded in his room and refused to speak even to his parents.
3. 歴史上、城兵が城に立て籠もって敵軍の長期包囲に耐えた例は数多い。 Throughout history there are many examples of castle troops holing up inside a fortress and enduring a prolonged enemy siege.

Usage Guide

Context: crime, protest, history, social withdrawal

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 立てる (to set up, establish) and 籠もる (to shut in, be enclosed; related to 籠 'basket/cage'). The image is of constructing a defensive barrier and remaining enclosed within it.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal