'Zhái nǚ' literally combines 'zhái' (meaning 'home', 'residence', or 'to stay indoors') and 'nǚ' (meaning 'woman'). It refers to a young woman who voluntarily withdraws from social life and spends most of her time at home—often engaging in hobbies like online gaming, watching dramas, reading manga, or browsing the internet. While it shares roots with the Japanese term 'hikikomori', 'zhái nǚ' is not necessarily clinical; it often carries a light, self-deprecating, or humorous tone in casual Chinese speech.

The term reflects contemporary urban youth culture in China, where digital connectivity enables extended indoor lifestyles. It’s commonly used among peers—not as a formal diagnosis but as an identity marker or lifestyle label. Unlike medical terms for social withdrawal, 'zhái nǚ' emphasizes choice, comfort, and autonomy rather than pathology, though overuse may hint at underlying stress or avoidance.