1.
to shut oneself in; to seclude oneself; to withdraw
To stay indoors and avoid going out or meeting people. Can describe temporary withdrawal (e.g., staying home on a rainy day) or more serious social withdrawal.
一日中部屋に閉じこもっていた。
I stayed shut up in my room all day.
雨の日は家に閉じこもって本を読む。
On rainy days, I stay indoors and read books.
失恋してから彼女は自分の殻に閉じこもってしまった。
After the breakup, she withdrew into her shell.
Compound verb from 閉じる (to close) + こもる (to seclude oneself). Intransitive.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 部屋に閉じこもる (to shut oneself in one's room)
- 家に閉じこもる (to stay shut up at home)
- 殻に閉じこもる (to withdraw into one's shell — figurative)
USAGE NOTE:
Can range from neutral (staying home on a bad-weather day) to serious (social withdrawal associated with 引きこもり). Context determines the tone. The figurative use 殻に閉じこもる describes emotional withdrawal.