Meaning and Usage
The word 蔵 (くら) primarily refers to a warehouse or storage place, often for valuable or specific items like books, sake, or wine. It can mean a traditional storehouse or cellar.
Common Contexts
蔵 is frequently used in contexts involving storage of goods, especially in traditional or specialized settings such as sake breweries (酒蔵) or wine cellars. It often implies a secure, sometimes old-fashioned place for preservation.
Collocations and Patterns
- 酒蔵 (さかぐら): sake brewery, a place where sake is made and stored.
- ワイン蔵 (ワインぐら): wine cellar, a place for storing wine.
- 蔵を持つ (くらをもつ): to own a warehouse or storehouse.
Register and Nuance
蔵 is a somewhat formal or literary term compared to 普通の倉庫 (そうこ), which is a more general word for warehouse. It often carries a nuance of tradition or specialty.
Common Learner Mistake
Confusing 蔵 with 倉庫 (そうこ), which also means warehouse. 蔵 often implies a more specialized or traditional storage, while 倉庫 is more general and modern. Use 蔵 when referring to traditional or valuable storage places.