倉庫

そうこ

storehouse, warehouse

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 倉庫 (そうこ) refers to a physical place used for storing goods, materials, or items, commonly translated as "warehouse" or "storehouse." It is often used in business, logistics, and everyday contexts where storage of items is involved.

Common Contexts

倉庫 is typically used to describe large storage spaces, such as those used by companies to keep inventory or by individuals to store belongings. It can also appear in contexts involving organizing, moving, or managing stored items.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 倉庫に保管する: to store in a warehouse
  • 倉庫から出す: to take out from the warehouse
  • 倉庫の整理: organizing the warehouse

These phrases are common when discussing inventory management or physical storage tasks.

Register and Nuance

倉庫 is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is not typically used metaphorically but strictly refers to physical storage spaces.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 倉庫 with 貯蔵 (ちょぞう), which also means storage but is more often used for storing food or data rather than physical goods in a warehouse. Remember that 倉庫 specifically implies a building or space for storing items.

Example Sentences

このそうこにはたくさんのかぐがほかんされています。

Many pieces of furniture are stored in this warehouse.

そうこからしょうひんをだして、みせにならべました。

We took the products out of the warehouse and displayed them in the store.

そうこのせいりをするために、しゅうまつにみんなであつまりました。

We gathered together on the weekend to organize the warehouse.