Chinese idiom · 成语
足不出户
Meaning
Feet not leaving the house; to stay indoors.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary usageThe wording literally says that one's feet do not leave the doorway. A documented literary example appears in chapter 33 of Ernü Yingxiong Zhuan: a young man remains indoors, does not even look out into the garden, and makes steady progress in his studies. This is evidence for the phrase's use, not proof that the novelist invented it.
It describes remaining at home and can be neutral: study, recovery from illness, bad weather, or modern online services may all make going out unnecessary. Whether staying inside is admirable, unfortunate, or convenient depends on the sentence.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
现在网上就能买菜，足不出户也能准备晚饭。
With groceries available online, you can prepare dinner without leaving home.
A neutral description of staying indoors; it does not necessarily imply reclusion.