1.
treasure house; treasury; storehouse for valuables
A building or room where valuable objects, artifacts, or treasures are kept. Often found at temples, shrines, castles, and museums in Japan.
寺の宝物庫を見学する。
To visit the temple's treasure house.
宝物庫には国宝に指定された仏像が収められている。
The treasure house contains Buddha statues designated as national treasures.
城の宝物庫から貴重な刀剣が発見された。
Precious swords were discovered in the castle's treasure house.
2.
treasure trove; rich source (figurative)
Used figuratively to describe a place, collection, or resource that is exceptionally rich in valuable content.
この図書館は知識の宝物庫だ。
This library is a treasure trove of knowledge.
この地域は自然の宝物庫と呼ばれている。
This region is called a treasure house of nature.
祖母の家は昔の写真や手紙の宝物庫だった。
My grandmother's house was a treasure trove of old photos and letters.
Compound of 宝物 (treasure; valuable object) + 庫 (storehouse). The reading 宝物 is the on'yomi compound; the kun'yomi equivalent 宝物 means "treasure" in a more personal, emotional sense.
Many Japanese temples and shrines have a 宝物庫 or 宝物殿 (treasure hall) where religious artifacts, donated objects, and cultural properties are displayed.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 宝物庫を公開する: to open the treasure house to the public
- 知識の宝物庫: a treasure house of knowledge
- 文化の宝物庫: a treasure house of culture
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 宝物殿: treasure hall — a more formal term, often used for grander structures at shrines and temples
- 宝庫: treasury; treasure house — a shorter synonym, more commonly used in figurative expressions
- 蔵: storehouse; warehouse — a traditional Japanese storage building, not specifically for treasures