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The word 【くら】 can be written with any of the kanji 蔵, 倉, or 庫. However, WWWJDIC lists them all under one entry, defined as:

(n) warehouse; cellar; magazine; granary; godown; depository; treasury; elevator;

Is there a difference in nuance or usage between these three kanji, and if so, what?

Update: @istrasci points out that:

[When] 蔵 is used as【〜ぞう】in compounds, it's used to denote ownership or possession.

Whereas compounds with 庫 seem to refer more to a physical storage facility.

Does anybody know about different nuances of the word 【くら】 itself?

senshin
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rintaun
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  • https://japanthis.com/2017/11/30/kura-all-about-japanese-storehouses/ - Here is an article in english about what a kura is, it is a traditional kind of storehouse. I find them nostalgic since a kura is featured in hikaru no go – Janusz ヤヌシュ Jan 09 '19 at 15:17

3 Answers3

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Here's what a person who's been immersed in the Japanese culture for 22 years imagine when she sees them without much context.

蔵

picture of 蔵

  • Where it can be found: In the estate of an old family, or as a cellar of a sake brewery. Usually in a place crowded with other buildings (hence the backside of the kura is blurred in the picture).
  • What's inside: Something valuable, treasures, or simply old and unused things for special occassions.
  • Height: 2-3 stories.

倉

picture of 倉

  • Where: In the rural districts.
  • What's inside: Farming tools, stored rice and unused things (of everyday use).
  • Height: 1-2 stories.

庫

picture of 庫

Note: I didn't know 庫 can be read as くら. These are the impressions I have about the kanji itself.

  • Where: In a house or any other building, or as a part of one.
  • What's inside: Something valuable, or other trinkets. Usually contains a single type of things.
  • Height: Can vary in size. Usually box-shaped and smaller than 倉.
ento
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8

As far as using them strictly for the word 【くら】, I'm not sure of any nuances. But when 蔵 is used as【〜ぞう】in compounds, it's used to denote ownership or possession.

私蔵　【しぞう】　→　Private collection
家蔵　【かぞう】　→　Household collections
所蔵　【しょぞう】→　To have in your possession (== 所有)
蔵書　【ぞうしょ】→　Collection of books / a library

Whereas compounds with 庫 seem to refer more to a physical storage facility.

車庫　【しゃこ】　→　Garage
金庫　【きんこ／かねぐら】　→　Vault/treasury
武器庫【ぶきこ】　→　Armory

Still the meanings seem to overlap even in a lot of compound words.

istrasci
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  • Very interesting. I hadn't noticed the compound-based meanings... but you're right, it's not entirely straight-forward with compounds, especially with words like 冷蔵庫【れいぞうこ】. – rintaun Jul 01 '11 at 01:51
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新選漢和辞典第六版付録同訓異義要覧八七頁

【くら】

〔倉〕

米【こめ】ぐら。穀物【こくもつ】ぐら。

〔蔵〕

大切【たいせつ】なものをしまっておく所【ところ】。

〔庫〕

武器【ぶき】や車【くるま】をおさめる所【ところ】。

〔府〕

金【かね】や品物【しなもの】をしまう所【ところ】。

〔廩〕

米【こめ】ぐら。屋根【やね】のあるくら。

I still think it should be called 同義異訓要覧.

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