Meaning
The kanji 庫 (pronounced くら or コ) refers primarily to a 'storehouse,' 'warehouse,' 'repository,' or 'treasury.' It signifies a building or a designated place specifically designed for storing goods, vehicles, or valuable items. This kanji is useful for describing various types of storage facilities, from a simple shed to a national treasury or even a modern refrigerator.
Its visual composition offers a direct clue to its meaning. The upper part, 广 (madare), is a radical representing a 'house' or 'shelter' with a roof and wall. The lower part, 車 (kuruma), means 'cart' or 'vehicle.' Combining these elements, 庫 suggests a 'house for storing carts' or 'a shelter for vehicles.' Historically, carts and chariots were valuable assets. A building dedicated to their storage would naturally be considered a storehouse for important possessions. This etymology connects the visual form to its core meaning of a place of keeping.
The kanji 庫 has 10 strokes and is a Jōyō kanji (常用漢字). This means it is among the kanji officially designated for common use. While it doesn't strictly fall into elementary school grades, it is typically learned in junior high. It is a standard kanji encountered at the JLPT N3 level, making it an essential character for intermediate Japanese learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi, or Chinese-derived reading, for 庫 is mainly コ (KO). This reading is frequently used in compound words. You'll find it when 庫 combines with other kanji to form terms related to specific types of storage or facilities. When you encounter 庫 as part of a compound word, コ is almost always the reading.
- 金庫 (kinko) — meaning 'safe' or 'strongbox.' This refers to a secure container for storing valuable items like money or documents.
- 書庫 (shoko) — meaning 'library' or 'archive,' specifically a room or building for storing books. It emphasizes the storage aspect of books rather than a public reading space.
- 車庫 (shako) — meaning 'garage' or 'car shed.' This compound directly reflects the kanji's etymology, referring to a place where vehicles are stored.
- 倉庫 (sōko) — meaning 'warehouse' or 'storehouse.' This is a general term for a large building used for commercial storage of goods.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi, or native Japanese reading, for 庫 is くら (kura). This reading is less common than the On'yomi in modern compound words. However, it is significant for its direct meaning of a 'storehouse' or 'granary,' often evoking a more traditional or older type of storage building. It can appear alone, or as part of specific, often older, compound names, or in cases of rendaku (sound change).
- 蔵 (kura) — While the kanji 蔵 is more commonly used for this reading, 庫 can also be read as くら when referring to a traditional storehouse. However, it's rarer as a standalone kanji with this reading than in compounds.
- 米庫 (komegura) — meaning 'rice granary.' Here, 庫 takes on the rendaku sound ぐら, showing its connection to grain storage.
- 酒庫 (sakagura) — meaning 'sake brewery' or 'sake storage house.' This refers to the place where sake is brewed and stored, again with rendaku.
- お蔵入り (okura-iri) — This idiom means 'to be shelved' or 'to be put into storage' (of a project, film, etc.), indicating something that has been put aside or cancelled.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 庫 appears in a wide variety of practical compound words, covering many aspects of storage, both in daily life and specialized contexts. Learning these compounds is key to understanding 庫 thoroughly.
- 冷蔵庫 (reizōko) — refrigerator. This is one of the most common words using 庫, literally meaning 'cold storage house.'
- 金庫 (kinko) — safe; strongbox. A secure place for valuables.
- 倉庫 (sōko) — warehouse; storehouse. A general term for a large storage facility.
- 車庫 (shako) — garage; car shed. A building for parking and storing vehicles.
- 書庫 (shoko) — library (storage for books); archives. Specifically referring to the storage area for books, like the 'stacks' in a public library.
- 国庫 (kokko) — national treasury. The public funds of a nation.
- 文庫 (bunko) — library, archive; also a paperback edition (e.g., 文庫本, bunko-bon). A smaller, typically affordable book format, originally derived from collections of books.
- 在庫 (zaiko) — inventory; stock. Refers to goods or materials currently held in a storehouse or available for sale.
- 出庫 (shukko) — taking out of storage; dispatch. The act of removing items from a warehouse or stock.
- 入庫 (nyūko) — putting into storage; receiving into stock. The act of putting items into a warehouse or adding to stock.
- 弾薬庫 (danyakuko) — arsenal; ammunition depot. A storage facility for weapons and ammunition.
- 宝庫 (hōko) — treasure house; treasury; rich source (e.g., of information). A place where treasures are kept, or metaphorically, a place rich in something valuable.
Example Sentences
冷蔵庫に牛乳がありません。
Reizōko ni gyūnyū ga arimasen.
There is no milk in the refrigerator.
この倉庫は来月新しくなります。
Kono sōko wa raigetsu atarashiku narimasu.
This warehouse will be new next month.
車庫に車を入れてください。
Shako ni kuruma wo irete kudasai.
Please put the car in the garage.
金庫の中には大切な書類が保管されています。
Kinko no naka ni wa taisetsu na shorui ga hokansareteimasu.
Important documents are stored inside the safe.
図書館の書庫には貴重な本がたくさんあります。
Toshokan no shoko ni wa kichō na hon ga takusan arimasu.
There are many valuable books in the library's stacks.
国庫の財政は厳しい状況にある。
Kokko no zaisei wa kibishii jōkyō ni aru.
The national treasury's finances are in a severe situation.
在庫が少なくなってきたので、すぐに発注しましょう。
Zaiko ga sukunaku natte kita node, sugu ni hatchū shimashō.
The inventory is running low, so let's order immediately.
最近の文庫本は、デザインがとてもおしゃれだ。
Saikin no bunkobon wa, dezain ga totemo oshare da.
Recently, paperback books have very stylish designs.
この地域は、自然の宝庫として知られています。
Kono chiiki wa, shizen no hōko to shite shirareteimasu.
This region is known as a treasure trove of nature.
Memory Tip
To remember 庫, think of its components: The top part, 广 (madare), looks like the 'roof' or 'shelter' of a building. The bottom part, 車 (kuruma), means 'car' or 'vehicle.' Imagine a spacious 'shelter' (广) built specifically to 'store a car' (車). This building is your 'garage' or 'storehouse.' You keep valuable items, like your car, safe under a roof. This visual story of a house protecting a vehicle can help you remember that 庫 means 'storehouse' or 'repository.'