How to pronounce "hikikomori" in English
ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi
hih·kee·koh·MOR·ee
Primary stress: MOR
Hear native speakers say hikikomori in context across real video clips
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “hikikomori”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
hih
Reduced vowel sound, relaxed jaw, and minimal vocal effort.
kee
Reduced vowel sound, relaxed jaw, and minimal vocal effort.
koh
Reduced vowel sound, relaxed jaw, and minimal vocal effort.
MOR
Gliding diphthong with sustained vocal resonance.
ee
Reduced vowel sound, relaxed jaw, and minimal vocal effort.
Primary emphasis falls on the fourth syllable ("MOR"). Raise your pitch and sustain the vowel length on this syllable while relaxing the surrounding syllables.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels.
How Native Speakers Say It: Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When followed by a vowel, insert a subtle glide (/w/ or /j/) to connect into the subsequent word without an abrupt glottal stop.
Maintain the stress-timed rhythm of English: compress unstressed syllables rapidly so the beat of "hikikomori" aligns naturally with adjacent words.
Authentic Spoken Quotes from Native Video Context
“Knowing at least somebody notices and somebody cares for them can make all the difference between a decade of Hikikomori”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
“started to visit today I will visit the hikikomori his home so far I visited”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
“So he became-- there's a Japanese term, hikikomori.”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
“Well, to start, these Hikikomori typically build these dens in their”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
“decades they're known as hikikomori people who have completely withdrawn from society”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
“Hikikomori. And it usually looks like this, or like this, or sometimes even like this.”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
Practice Speaking “hikikomori”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
Knowing at least somebody notices and somebody cares for them can make all the difference between a decade of Hikikomori
Hear it in context: “hikikomori”
20 clipsThe English word “hikikomori” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi (phonetic respelling: hih-kee-koh-MOR-ee). Phonologically, it consists of 5 syllables (hih · kee · koh · MOR · ee), with primary lexical stress placed on the 4th syllable (MOR). Grammatically, “hikikomori” functions as a noun. SayItVid indexes 20 authentic English video clips demonstrating how native speakers articulate “hikikomori” in natural connected speech across American (US: 8 sampled), British (UK), and Australian (AUS) accents, including verified broadcasts from TEDx Talks.
Spoken Video Transcripts & Contextual Quotes (5 Verified Clips)
- 🇺🇸 USTEDx TalksClip #1 · @5:10
“normally would have come to, talk to them about it. Knowing at least somebody notices and somebody cares for them can make all the difference between a decade of Hikikomori can make all the difference between a decade of Hikikomori”
- 🇺🇸 USClip #2 · @6:51
“members couldn't do anything anymore an experienced rental sister called Atsuko started to visit today I will visit the hikikomori his home so far I visited about 10 or 15 times but he never comes out here to do so I have to talk to him”
- 🇺🇸 USClip #3 · @37:05
“with headphones into this webcam. So he became-- there's a Japanese term, hikikomori. It's It's a famous shut-in.”
- 🇺🇸 USTEDx TalksClip #4 · @1:05
“or like this, or sometimes even like this. You may look at this and ask, "Why Japan?" Well, to start, these Hikikomori typically build these dens in their Well, to start, these Hikikomori typically build these dens in their”
- 🇺🇸 USClip #5 · @0:12
“themselves away in their bedrooms sometimes not leaving their homes for decades they're known as hikikomori people who have completely withdrawn from society have completely withdrawn from society”
Definition & Meaning: “hikikomori”
- A Japanese phenomenon whereby a person becomes a recluse from society, typically remaining isolated in a single room at home for a very long period.
- A reclusive person of this kind.
Example Sentences (3)
- “The new taxonomy of Japanese sexlessness also includes terms for groups such as hikikomori (“shut-ins”), parasaito shinguru (“parasite singles,” people who live with their parents beyond their 20s), and otaku (“obsessive fans,” especially of anime and manga)—all of whom are said to contribute to sekkusu shinai shokogun (“celibacy syndrome”).”
- “Knowing at least somebody notices and somebody cares for them can make all the difference between a decade of Hikikomori”
- “started to visit today I will visit the hikikomori his home so far I visited”
Common Phrases & Collocations
Pronounce: “hikikomori”
- Pronunciation:
- hih-kee-koh-MOR-ee
- Syllables:
- hih · kee · koh · MOR · ee
- Written Hyphenation:
- hi · ki · ko · mo · ri
- Primary stress:
- MOR
- IPA:
- ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi
- Hear it in context
- hikikomori
Words that Rhyme with “hikikomori”
-ɔriWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"hikikomori" (⁄ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "hikikomori" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about hikikomori
How do you pronounce “hikikomori”?
“hikikomori” is pronounced ⁄ˌhɪkikoʊˈmɔɹi⁄ (hih-kee-koh-MOR-ee). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.
How many syllables are in “hikikomori”?
“hikikomori” has 5 syllables: hih · kee · koh · MOR · ee.
Where is the stress in “hikikomori”?
The primary stress in “hikikomori” is on “MOR”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.
What does “hikikomori” mean?
A Japanese phenomenon whereby a person becomes a recluse from society, typically remaining isolated in a single room at home for a very long period.
How can I hear “hikikomori” used in real sentences?
This page has 20 real-world video examples of “hikikomori” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “hikikomori”?
Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels. Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).