Storehouse, Warehouse

1. Character Basics

Radical: 广 (yǎn, house)
Stroke Count: 7
Stroke Order:
广 库

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin:
Tone: 4th tone (falling)
Audio:

3. Meaning

  • Storehouse, warehouse
  • Depot, repository
  • Collection, library
  • Reservoir

4. Common Words

仓库 cāng kù Warehouse
车库 chē kù Garage
数据库 shù jù kù Database
图书馆 tú shū guǎn Library
水库 shuǐ kù Reservoir

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "库" is primarily used as a noun to refer to places where things are stored. It is often combined with other characters to form compound words that specify the type of storage facility.

As a noun component:

我们需要把这些货物送到仓库。(Wǒmen xūyào bǎ zhèxiē huòwù sòngdào cāngkù.) - We need to send these goods to the warehouse.

In modern terms:

这个项目需要建立一个大型数据库。(Zhège xiàngmù xūyào jiànlì yīgè dàxíng shùjùkù.) - This project needs to establish a large database.

In everyday usage:

我的车停在车库里。(Wǒ de chē tíng zài chēkù lǐ.) - My car is parked in the garage.

6. Cultural Background

In ancient China, warehouses (库) played a crucial role in the economy and society. They were used to store grains, weapons, and other important resources. The management of warehouses was a significant part of government administration, as it ensured food security and military preparedness.

In modern times, the concept of "库" has expanded beyond physical storage spaces to include digital repositories like databases. This reflects how traditional Chinese characters evolve to accommodate new technological and societal developments while maintaining their core meaning.

7. Example Sentence

图书馆里收藏了很多珍贵的书籍。

Túshūguǎn lǐ shōucáng le hěnduō zhēnguì de shūjí.

The library has collected many valuable books.

8. Memory Tips

To remember the character "库", look at its structure: it consists of "广" (yǎn, house/covering) and "车" (chē, vehicle). You can imagine a building (广) that houses vehicles (车), which is a garage or warehouse. The pronunciation "kù" rhymes with the English word "cool" but with a falling tone.

Another way to remember it is to associate it with common words like "仓库" (cāngkù - warehouse) or "车库" (chēkù - garage), which are frequently used in daily life.