篭ります（こもります、komorimasu）
- to seclude

The Japanese verb 篭ります, read as こもります, primarily means "to stay indoors," "to seclude oneself," "to be confined," or "to shut oneself up." It often implies a deliberate choice to withdraw from the outside world or a specific activity, usually for a period of time. This seclusion can be for various reasons, such as working, studying, resting, or engaging in a specific activity. 篭ります suggests a physical or metaphorical enclosure. ⚫︎ It can describe being in a closed space or focusing intently on a task. ⚫︎ The nuance involves a sense of being away from others or limiting one's interactions. ⚫︎ The duration can vary from a short period to a more extended time.

⚫︎ 家（いえ）に篭ります。 Translation: I stay indoors. / I'm staying home. ⚫︎ 研究室（けんきゅうしつ）に篭って、論文（ろんぶん）を書いています。 Translation: I'm shut up in the lab, writing a thesis. ⚫︎ 週末（しゅうまつ）は、部屋（へや）に篭ってゲームをします。 Translation: I stay in my room and play games on the weekend.

⚫︎ Use 篭ります when you want to describe someone staying in a place, typically an enclosed space like a room, house, or study. ⚫︎ This verb often implies a desire for solitude or to focus on something without distractions. ⚫︎ It's appropriate in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings. ⚫︎ It’s useful to describe time spent in concentrated work, study, or leisure activities that are done in private. ⚫︎ Common grammar patterns include: * 〜に篭ります（to stay/seclude oneself in ~） * 〜に篭って（while staying/secluding oneself in ~） * 〜から篭ります（to seclude oneself from ~）

⚫︎ The base form is 篭る (こもる). ⚫︎ The ます-form is 篭ります (こもります). ⚫︎ The て-form is 篭って (こもって). ⚫︎ It is always written in hiragana as こもります or, in its conjugated forms, as 篭って etc. The kanji 籠 can be used, but is less common and often appears in more formal written contexts. ⚫︎ The okurigana (送りがな, suffix hiragana) is usually ります after the kanji 籠, if it's used.

⚫︎ 引きこもる (ひきこもる): To withdraw, to seclude oneself (often used for social withdrawal). ⚫︎ 閉じこもる (とじこもる): To shut oneself in/up. ⚫︎ こもる (こもる) - (same as 篭る, just the base form and often implied within a broader context). ⚫︎ 籠城する (ろうじょうする): To hold out in a castle or fortress, to lay siege. (implies a strong sense of defense)

⚫︎ 出る (でる): To go out, to leave. ⚫︎ 外出する (がいしゅつする): To go out. ⚫︎ 参加する (さんかする): To participate, to join.

試験（しけん）前（まえ）なので、図書館（としょかん）に篭ります。 ・Translation: Because it's before the exam, I'm going to shut myself up in the library. ・Explanation: This shows the use of 篭ります to describe studying in a library to prepare for an exam.

病気（びょうき）で一週間（いっしゅうかん）家（いえ）に篭っていました。 ・Translation: I was staying home for a week because of illness. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates using the て-form of the verb to describe a past action, indicating a period of confinement due to sickness.

The kanji 籠 originally meant "basket" or "cage." The verb likely derived from the image of being confined within a basket or small enclosure, thus describing the act of staying inside or withdrawing. The etymology reflects the sense of enclosure that is at the heart of the meaning of 篭ります.