Meaning
The kanji 蔵 (くら or ぞう) is a fundamental character in Japanese, primarily meaning "storehouse" or "warehouse." However, its meaning extends to the actions of "storing," "hiding," "possessing," or "owning." You'll encounter this versatile kanji frequently when discussing storage, collections, or even things kept secret or internal.
To understand 蔵 better, consider its origins. The character is generally considered a phono-semantic compound. It combines 臣 (シン, shishin or shinjū), which often represents a container or vessel—perhaps even a cabinet or a box where items are kept. The component 臧 (ぞう), containing 戈 (a halberd or weapon), primarily acts as the phonetic element, giving 蔵 its 'zō' sound. Interestingly, 臧 also carries meanings like "good," "property," or "possessions." This suggests 蔵 can be imagined as a "container for good things" or "a place to keep valuable possessions," eventually evolving into its current meanings of a storehouse or the act of storing something precious.
Visually, one can imagine 臣 as a deep chamber or structure, with 臧 representing the valuable contents secured within it—perhaps even guarded by the weapon implied by 戈. This strong emphasis on securing and keeping items safe is central to 蔵's meaning. It's often not just about a simple box, but rather a dedicated place for safeguarding things of value or importance.
This kanji has 15 strokes and is a Secondary School (S) level Joyo kanji, making it an essential character for JLPT N3 learners.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi are readings derived from Chinese and are typically used when the kanji is part of a compound word.
ゾウ (ZŌ): This is the most common on'yomi for 蔵. You'll find it in many key vocabulary words related to storage, collection, and internal components.
冷蔵庫 (reizōko) — refrigerator (literally, "cold storage house")
貯蔵 (chozō) — storage, preservation (e.g., storing food or data)
内蔵 (naizō) — built-in, internal (e.g., a built-in camera or internal memory)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings, often used when the kanji stands alone or is followed by okurigana (hiragana endings).
くら (kura): This is the standalone reading for "storehouse" or "warehouse." It often refers to traditional Japanese storehouses, often made of earth or wood, for storing valuable goods, sake, or miso.
蔵 (kura) — storehouse, warehouse, cellar
酒蔵 (sakagura) — sake brewery/storehouse (where sake is brewed and stored)
土蔵 (dozō) — earthen storehouse (a traditional type of fire-resistant storehouse)
おさ-める (osa-meru): This verb means "to store," "to lay in," "to put away," or "to collect." It implies the action of putting something into storage or keeping it.
蔵める (osameru) — to store, to put away (e.g., putting books back on a shelf)
刀を鞘に蔵める (katana wo saya ni osameru) — to sheathe a sword (literally, "to store a sword in its sheath")
Common Words & Compounds
This section explores more common words and compounds featuring 蔵, grouped by theme to help you grasp their usage in context.
Storage & Buildings
蔵書 (zōsho) — book collection (refers to the books held in a library or by an individual)
酒蔵 (sakagura) — sake brewery/storehouse (a vital place for Japanese culture!)
味噌蔵 (misogura) — miso storehouse (where miso is fermented and stored)
土蔵 (dozō) — earthen storehouse (a traditional, often fire-resistant, type of storehouse)
Actions & Possession
貯蔵 (chozō) — storage, preservation (e.g., storing food for winter)
収蔵 (shūzō) — collection, storing (especially of art or cultural assets in a museum)
所蔵 (shozō) — possession, something owned and stored (e.g., a library's collection)
蔵める (osameru) — to store, to put away (as seen in kun'yomi examples)
Internal & Specific Storage
内蔵 (naizō) — built-in, internal (e.g., a camera built into a phone)
冷蔵庫 (reizōko) — refrigerator (a household item you definitely know!)
宝蔵 (hōzō) — treasure house, treasury (a place where valuables are kept)
Example Sentences
あの酒蔵では、昔ながらの方法で日本酒を作っています。
Ano sakagura dewa, mukashi nagara no hōhō de nihonshu wo tsukutte imasu.
That sake brewery makes Japanese sake using traditional methods.
食料を貯蔵するために、大きな倉庫が必要です。
Shokuryō wo chozō suru tame ni, ookina sōko ga hitsuyō desu.
A large warehouse is necessary to store food supplies.
このカメラには、大容量のメモリが内蔵されています。
Kono kamera ni wa, daiyōryō no memori ga naizō sarete imasu.
This camera has a large-capacity memory built-in.
おばあちゃんの家には、古い蔵があり、色々な宝物が眠っています。
Obaachan no ie ni wa, furui kura ga ari, iroiro na takaramono ga nemutte imasu.
My grandmother's house has an old storehouse, where various treasures lie dormant.
博物館に収蔵されている絵画を見に行きました。
Hakubutsukan ni shūzō sarete iru kaiga wo mi ni ikimashita.
I went to see the paintings stored in the museum's collection.
重要な書類は金庫に蔵めてください。
Jūyō na shorui wa kinko ni osamete kudasai.
Please store important documents in the safe.
地下の蔵は、ワインの貯蔵に最適です。
Chika no kura wa, wain no chozō ni saiteki desu.
The underground cellar is ideal for storing wine.
彼は心の中に深い秘密を蔵めていました。
Kare wa kokoro no naka ni fukai himitsu wo osamete imashita.
He kept a deep secret hidden within his heart.
この図書館が所蔵している古い巻物は非常に貴重です。
Kono toshokan ga shozō shiteiru furui makimono wa hijō ni kichō desu.
The old scrolls possessed by this library are extremely valuable.
Memory Tip
To help remember 蔵, it's useful to break it down visually using its components. Imagine a "servant" (臣, which looks a bit like an eye looking down, often associated with a retainer or official) tasked with guarding valuable "possessions" (臧, whose component 戈 can remind you of a weapon used for protection). So, picture a loyal servant standing guard with a weapon over a special "storehouse" or "treasury" where important items are kept safe. The top part (艹) can be seen as the roof of this secure building, providing shelter for all the treasures. Think of it as: "A servant (臣) uses a weapon (戈 inside 臧) to guard the goods (臧) under a roof (艹) in the storehouse (蔵)." This little story emphasizes both the safekeeping aspect and the physical structure of a storehouse.