Translation guide
A large building for storing goods. In Japanese, the most common word is 倉庫 (そうこ), but there are several other terms depending on context, tradition, or type of goods stored.
warehouse (general)
traditional Japanese storehouse
Often seen in historic districts.
A building for storing commercial goods, inventory, or personal belongings.
A traditional Japanese storehouse, often with thick earthen walls, used historically for storing valuables like rice or treasures.
Refers to a traditional Japanese storehouse, often with distinctive white plaster walls. Still seen in historical districts and sometimes converted into shops or museums.
A very large warehouse, often for industrial, agricultural, or bonded storage.
Still the default, but can be modified with prefixes to specify type.
A small storage space attached to a house or shop, like a storeroom or shed.
倉庫 (そうこ) is the modern, general term for a warehouse used in business. 蔵 (くら) refers to a traditional Japanese storehouse, often with thick earthen walls, and carries a historical or cultural nuance. 物置 (ものおき) is a small storage shed or closet for household items, not a commercial warehouse.
The warehouse is full of boxes.
We plan to build a new warehouse in the suburbs.
Large distribution warehouses are concentrated in this area.
Magnificent old storehouses remain in the historic townscape.
Specifically an earthen-walled storehouse, emphasizing the fireproof and durable construction. Often used for storing rice or important documents.
The earthen storehouse was built to protect household goods from fire.
Goods stored in a bonded warehouse have their customs duties deferred.
A complex or cluster of warehouses. Used in industrial or port areas.
A vast complex of warehouses stretches across the port area.
A small storage shed or closet for household items, tools, etc. Not a commercial warehouse.
I bought a shed and assembled it in the garden.
A barn or outbuilding for storing farm produce, tools, or equipment. Often found in rural settings.
The harvested vegetables are laid out in the barn.
Manage inventory in the warehouse.
I joined a tour of the traditional storehouse.
I'll get the shovel from the shed.
English 'warehouse' can sometimes be used loosely for a large storage shed, but in Japanese 倉庫 implies a commercial or industrial scale. For a garden shed or small storage room, use 物置 (ものおき) or 納屋 (なや).
They converted an old warehouse into apartments.