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B1 noun #8,000 am häufigsten 7 Min. Lesezeit

金庫

kinko Top 8,000

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Erklärung 金庫 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you just need to know that 'kinko' means 'safe.' You might see this word in a hotel or a basic story. Think of it as a 'special box for money.' The kanji for 'kin' (gold/money) is one of the first you learn, so you can easily recognize half the word. Use it simply: 'The safe is here' or 'My money is in the safe.' Don't worry about complex types of safes yet. Just remember it's a place where you keep things you don't want anyone to steal.

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At the A2 level, you start using 'kinko' with basic verbs like 'to open' (akeru) or 'to put in' (ireru). You might need this word when traveling to ask where the safe is in your hotel room. You should also recognize the difference between a 'kinko' and a 'chokinbako' (piggy bank). A 'kinko' is heavy and has a lock, while a 'chokinbako' is for saving coins at home. You can also start to use the particle 'ni' to show where things are stored: 'kinko ni pasupōto wo iremasu' (I put my passport in the safe).

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At the B1 level, you can handle more specific contexts. You'll learn terms like 'tesage kinko' (portable cash box) and 'taika kinko' (fireproof safe). You might encounter 'kinko' in news stories about robberies or business discussions about protecting documents. You should be able to describe the state of the safe: 'kinko ni kagi ga kakatte iru' (the safe is locked). You also begin to see the word as part of financial institution names like 'Shinyō Kinko' (Credit Union).

At the B2 level, 'kinko' appears in more abstract or formal settings. You might read about 'kinko-ban' (the person in charge of funds) or 'kinko-kabu' (treasury stock). You understand the social significance of the home safe in Japan for storing official seals (jitsuin). You can use the word in complex sentences involving passive voice or causative forms, such as 'kinko wo yaburareta' (had my safe broken into). You also understand the nuance of using 'kinko' versus 'hōmotsuden' (temple treasury).

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At the C1 level, you are comfortable with technical and legal nuances. You might discuss 'kashikinko' (safe deposit box) rental agreements or the historical evolution of 'kinko' in Japanese banking. You can use the word metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely secretive or an institution that is the 'vault' of cultural heritage. You understand the kanji '庫' appearing in other words like 'shoko' (library stacks) or 'reizōko' (refrigerator) and how they all relate to specialized storage.

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At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of 'kinko' in all its forms. You can appreciate literary uses where a 'kinko' might symbolize a character's trapped emotions or a family's hidden past. You understand the intricate financial regulations surrounding 'Shinyō Kinko' versus commercial banks. You can effortlessly navigate high-level discussions about security technology, from biometric 'kinko' to blockchain-based 'digital vaults,' using the term as a bridge between traditional and futuristic concepts of 'value storage.'

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金庫 in 30 Sekunden

A kinko is a safe or vault used for storing valuables like money and documents.
The word combines 'gold/money' and 'warehouse,' highlighting its primary function.
Commonly found in Japanese homes, hotels, and as part of 'Shinyo Kinko' (credit unions).
Essential verbs include 'akeru' (open), 'ireru' (put in), and 'kagi wo kakeru' (lock).

The word 金庫 (kinko) is a cornerstone of Japanese vocabulary related to security, finance, and personal organization. At its most basic level, it refers to a safe or a vault—a reinforced, usually fireproof container designed to protect valuables from theft, fire, or unauthorized access. The kanji themselves tell a clear story: 金 (kin) means gold or money, and 庫 (ko) means a warehouse, storage room, or cellar. Together, they literally describe a 'money warehouse.'

Domestic Usage: In Japanese households, particularly those of the older generation, a 耐火金庫 (taika kinko) or fireproof safe is extremely common. These aren't just for cash; they are primarily used to store the 実印 (jitsuin) or official registered seal, land deeds, insurance policies, and the 年金手帳 (nenkin techō) or pension book. Because Japan has historically been a cash-heavy society, having a small safe at home is seen as a practical necessity rather than a sign of extreme wealth.
Commercial and Banking Context: In a business setting, 金庫 refers to the heavy-duty vaults found in banks or the smaller drop-safes in retail stores. You will often hear the term 手提げ金庫 (tesage kinko), which refers to a portable cash box used at school festivals, local markets, or small shops. Larger institutions use 大金庫 (daikinko) for massive walk-in vaults. The term is also found in the names of financial institutions, such as 信用金庫 (shinyō kinko), which are credit unions or community banks.

大切な書類はすべて金庫の中に保管してあります。
(All important documents are stored inside the safe.)

Beyond physical objects, 金庫 can be used metaphorically. A person who is extremely tight-lipped about secrets might be described as having a 口の金庫 (kuchi no kinko), though the more common idiom is 口が固い (kuchi ga katai). However, in political or organizational contexts, the person in charge of the funds is often called the 金庫番 (kinkoban), or the 'keeper of the safe,' which is a role of immense responsibility and power.

彼はその政党の金庫番として知られている。
(He is known as the treasurer/purse-keeper of that political party.)

Modern Evolution: With the rise of digital assets, you might encounter the term 電子金庫 (denshi kinko) or 'electronic safe,' referring to encrypted digital storage. Despite the shift to digital, the physical image of a heavy iron box remains the primary association for most Japanese speakers when they hear 金庫.

Using 金庫 correctly requires understanding its relationship with specific verbs and particles. Because a safe is a container, you will almost always use the particle に (ni) to indicate the location of items inside it, or を (wo) when the safe itself is the object of an action.

Common Verb Pairings

金庫に入れる (Kinko ni ireru): To put something in the safe.
金庫から出す (Kinko kara dasu): To take something out of the safe.
金庫を開ける (Kinko wo akeru): To open the safe.
金庫を破る (Kinko wo yaburu): To break into a safe (literally 'to tear' or 'to break').
金庫に鍵をかける (Kinko ni kagi wo kakeru): To lock the safe.

泥棒は巧みに金庫のダイヤルを回した。
(The thief skillfully turned the dial of the safe.)

When discussing the security features of a safe, adjectives like 頑丈な (ganjō na - sturdy) or 最新式の (saishinshiki no - state-of-the-art) are often used. If you are staying at a hotel in Japan, you might need to ask the staff where the safe is located in the room.

客室に備え付けの金庫はありますか？
(Is there a safe provided in the guest room?)

In formal reports or news stories, you might see the term 金庫株 (kinkokabu), which refers to 'treasury stock'—shares of a company's own stock that it has bought back and is holding 'in its safe' rather than retiring them or selling them to the public.

The word 金庫 is ubiquitous in Japanese daily life, media, and business. Understanding the contexts in which it appears will help you grasp its importance beyond just 'a box for money.'

1. Financial Institutions: The most common place to see this word is on the signs of 信用金庫 (Shinyō Kinko), often abbreviated as 信金 (Shinkin). These are cooperative banks that serve local communities and small businesses. If you live in Japan, you will likely have a Shinkin branch in your neighborhood, making the word a constant part of the visual landscape.
2. Crime Dramas and Mystery Novels: Japan has a massive appetite for detective fiction (like Detective Conan) and heist movies. In these stories, the 金庫 is a central plot device. Characters might spend an entire episode trying to find the 暗証番号 (ansho bangō - PIN code) or the 合鍵 (aikagi - duplicate key) to a mysterious safe containing a will or a secret document.

犯人は金庫の中身を盗んで逃走した。
(The perpetrator stole the contents of the safe and fled.)

In the news, you might hear about 没収された金庫 (bosshū sareta kinko)—safes confiscated during police raids on organized crime offices. Interestingly, during natural disasters like the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, thousands of 金庫 were washed up on the shores of Tohoku. The police had a massive task of returning these safes to their owners, highlighting how deeply ingrained the 'home safe' is in Japanese culture for protecting family legacies.

While 金庫 is a relatively straightforward noun, English speakers often make mistakes regarding its scope and the specific nuances of Japanese storage terms.

Confusing 'Kinko' with 'Ginkō': Due to the similar sound, beginners often mix up 金庫 (kinko - safe) and 銀行 (ginkō - bank). While both involve money, a ginkō is the institution, whereas a kinko is the physical box. Remember: Ginkō has a long 'o' and a 'g' sound, while Kinko is short and starts with 'k'.
Overusing 'Kinko' for all boxes: Not every box that holds money is a 金庫. A piggy bank is a 貯金箱 (chokinbako). A cash register is a レジ (reji). Using 金庫 for a child's plastic coin jar sounds overly dramatic and slightly strange in Japanese.

❌ 貯金箱を金庫と呼ばないでください。
(Please don't call a piggy bank a 'kinko'.)

Another mistake is confusing 金庫 with 倉庫 (sōko). A sōko is a warehouse for general goods (furniture, inventory), while a kinko is specifically for valuables. If you tell a mover to put your valuables in the sōko, they might leave them in a large, unsecured storage unit instead of a locked safe.

Depending on what you are storing and where, several other words might be more appropriate than 金庫. Here is a breakdown of the most common alternatives.

宝物殿 (Hōmotsuden) vs. 金庫 (Kinko): A 金庫 is functional and modern. A 宝物殿 is a 'treasury' usually found at shrines or temples, housing ancient artifacts and sacred treasures. You wouldn't call a temple's 1,000-year-old sword room a 'kinko'.
ロッカー (Rokkā) vs. 金庫 (Kinko): A コインロッカー (coin locker) is for temporary storage of luggage or bags. While it locks, it is not a 金庫 because it isn't reinforced against fire or heavy-duty theft. If you use the word 金庫 to refer to a gym locker, people will be confused.
セーフティボックス (Sēfuti Bokkusu): This is the katakana version of 'safety box'. It is almost exclusively used in hotels to refer to the small electronic safes in guest rooms. While you can call it a 客室金庫 (kyakushitsu kinko), セーフティボックス sounds a bit more modern and international.

銀行の貸金庫を利用しています。
(I am using a safe deposit box at the bank.)

Note the term 貸金庫 (kashikinko) in the example above. This is the specific term for a 'safe deposit box' that you rent from a bank. The prefix kashi- (from kasu - to lend) indicates that the safe is being rented to you.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The kanji '庫' (ko) originally depicted a carriage inside a shed, which later evolved to mean any storage for valuable things like weapons or money.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈkɪŋ.kəʊ/

US /ˈkɪŋ.koʊ/

The stress is on the first syllable 'Kin'.

Reimt sich auf

Shinko Danko Banko Zenko Kenko Bunko Genko Hanko

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it as 'Ginko' (Bank).
Stretching the 'o' too long like 'Kinkō'.
Failing to nasalize the 'n'.
Confusing the pitch accent (it is Heiban style).
Thinking the 'n' is a separate syllable 'Ki-un-ko'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Kanji are basic and commonly taught early.

Schreiben 3/5

The kanji for 'ko' (庫) can be slightly tricky to balance.

Sprechen 1/5

Two simple syllables, easy to pronounce.

Hören 2/5

Must distinguish from 'Ginko' (Bank).

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

金お金箱鍵銀行

Als Nächstes lernen

倉庫車庫冷蔵庫貴重品暗証番号

Fortgeschritten

内部留保消却有価証券遺言書実印

Wichtige Grammatik

Particle 'ni' for inside storage

金庫にお金を入れる。

Particle 'kara' for removal

金庫から書類を出す。

Nominalization with 'no'

金庫を開けるのは難しい。

Compound Nouns (Kanji + Kanji)

耐火 + 金庫 = 耐火金庫。

Potential Form

この金庫は開けられません。

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Beispiele nach Niveau

これは金庫です。

This is a safe.

Simple A is B structure.

金庫にお金があります。

There is money in the safe.

Using 'ni' for location and 'arimasu' for existence.

金庫はどこですか？

Where is the safe?

Standard 'doko desu ka' question.

金庫に鍵をかけます。

I will lock the safe.

Verb phrase 'kagi wo kakeru'.

小さい金庫を買いました。

I bought a small safe.

Adjective 'chiisai' modifying 'kinko'.

金庫を開けてください。

Please open the safe.

Request form '-te kudasai'.

金庫の中に何がありますか？

What is inside the safe?

Compound noun 'kinko no naka'.

金庫は重いです。

The safe is heavy.

Adjective 'omoi' (heavy).

ホテルの金庫にパスポートを入れました。

I put my passport in the hotel safe.

Location 'ni' + action 'ireru'.

金庫の番号を忘れました。

I forgot the safe's code.

Possessive 'no' linking safe and number.

この金庫は火事に強いです。

This safe is resistant to fire.

Phrase 'kaji ni tsuyoi' (strong against fire).

金庫から書類を出します。

I take the documents out of the safe.

Source particle 'kara' (from).

銀行には大きな金庫があります。

There is a big safe in the bank.

Topic marker 'wa' used with location 'ni'.

金庫の鍵をなくさないでください。

Please don't lose the key to the safe.

Negative request '-nai de kudasai'.

手提げ金庫を持ってイベントに行きます。

I will go to the event with a portable safe.

Compound 'tesage kinko'.

金庫を閉めるのを忘れました。

I forgot to close the safe.

Nominalizing the verb with 'no'.

耐火金庫は大切な書類を守るために必要です。

A fireproof safe is necessary to protect important documents.

Using 'tame ni' to express purpose.

金庫のダイヤルを右に三回回してください。

Please turn the safe dial to the right three times.

Directional 'ni' and counter 'kai'.

泥棒が金庫を盗もうとしましたが、重すぎて無理でした。

The thief tried to steal the safe, but it was too heavy and impossible.

Volitional form + 'to suru' (try to do).

近所の信用金庫でお金を下ろしました。

I withdrew money at the local credit union.

Location 'de' for an action.

金庫の暗証番号を定期的に変更しています。

I change the safe's PIN code regularly.

Adverb 'teikiteki ni' (regularly).

この金庫は指紋認証で開けることができます。

This safe can be opened with fingerprint authentication.

Potential structure 'koto ga dekiru'.

古い金庫の中に、祖父の遺言書が入っていました。

Inside the old safe, my grandfather's will was kept.

State of being 'haitte ita'.

金庫を床に固定して、盗難を防ぎます。

Fix the safe to the floor to prevent theft.

Connecting sentences with '-te' form.

彼は会社の金庫番として、長年信頼されてきた。

He has been trusted for many years as the company's treasurer.

Passive form 'sarer' used for respect/state.

その事件で、数千万円が入った金庫が丸ごと盗まれた。

In that incident, a safe containing tens of millions of yen was stolen entirely.

Adverb 'marugoto' (entirely/whole).

銀行の貸金庫を利用するには、審査が必要です。

To use a bank's safe deposit box, a screening process is required.

Conditional 'ni wa' meaning 'in order to'.

この金庫は特殊な合金で作られており、ドリルでも穴が開きません。

This safe is made of a special alloy, so even a drill cannot make a hole.

Concessive 'demo' (even if).

政治資金の透明性を高めるため、金庫の中身を公開すべきだ。

In order to increase the transparency of political funds, the contents of the 'safe' should be made public.

Auxiliary 'shubeki' (should).

金庫の鍵が開かないので、専門の業者を呼んだ。

Since the safe wouldn't open, I called a professional specialist.

Reason 'node' with potential negative.

そのソフトウェアは、データをデジタル金庫に保存する機能がある。

The software has a function to save data in a digital vault.

Noun-modifying clause.

祖母は金庫の中に、家族の思い出を大切にしまっていた。

My grandmother carefully kept family memories inside the safe.

Adverb 'taisetsu ni' (carefully/dearly).

信用金庫は、地域社会の発展を支える非営利の金融機関です。

Credit unions are non-profit financial institutions that support the development of local communities.

Formal definition using 'desu'.

金庫株の消却により、一株当たりの利益が向上した。

Due to the retirement of treasury stock, earnings per share improved.

Technical financial terminology.

歴史的な重要書類は、国立公文書館の巨大な金庫に厳重に保管されている。

Historically important documents are strictly kept in the massive vaults of the National Archives.

Adverb 'genjū ni' (strictly/securely).

金庫破りの手口が巧妙化しており、セキュリティの強化が急務だ。

Safe-cracking methods are becoming more sophisticated, making security enhancement an urgent task.

Grammar 'shite ori' (formal 'shite').

その秘密を知る者は、まさに「生きた金庫」のように沈黙を守った。

The person who knew the secret kept silent, just like a 'living vault'.

Metaphorical use with 'yō ni'.

災害時に備え、金庫の耐火性能と防水性能を確認しておくべきだ。

In preparation for disasters, one should check the fireproof and waterproof performance of the safe.

Compound nouns 'taika seinō' and 'bōsui seinō'.

金庫の所有権を巡って、遺族の間で激しい争いが起きた。

A fierce dispute arose among the bereaved family over the ownership of the safe.

Phrase 'wo megutte' (concerning/over).

最新の金庫は、地震の揺れを感知して自動的にロックが強化される。

The latest safes detect earthquake tremors and automatically strengthen their locks.

Action 'kanji te' followed by 'jidōteki ni'.

国家の財政を司る金庫番の交代は、市場に大きな衝撃を与えた。

The replacement of the 'purse-keeper' (Finance Minister) governing national finances sent a major shock through the markets.

Metaphorical use in high-level politics.

金庫という物理的な実体を超え、価値の保存は今や暗号空間へと移行している。

Transcending the physical entity of the safe, the preservation of value has now shifted to cryptographic space.

Complex structure 'wo koe' (transcending).

その老舗旅館の地下には、江戸時代から伝わる開かずの金庫が眠っている。

In the basement of that long-established inn lies an unopened safe passed down since the Edo period.

Literary expression 'nemutte iru' (lies/sleeps).

企業の内部留保は、いわば「いざという時のための金庫」としての役割を果たす。

Internal reserves of a company play the role of a 'safe for emergencies,' so to speak.

Phrase 'iwaba' (so to speak).

金庫のダイヤルを合わせる微かな音さえ、静寂の中では雷鳴のように響いた。

Even the faint sound of adjusting the safe's dial echoed like thunder in the silence.

Sublime descriptive language.

情報の非対称性が、ある種の「知識の金庫」を作り出し、権力を固定化させる。

Information asymmetry creates a kind of 'knowledge vault,' solidifying power.

Abstract philosophical usage.

金庫株の保有比率を調整することで、敵対的買収への防衛策を講じる。

By adjusting the holding ratio of treasury stock, defensive measures against hostile takeovers are taken.

Advanced corporate strategy terminology.

金庫が象徴するのは、単なる富の蓄積ではなく、失いたくないという人間の根源的な恐怖である。

What the safe symbolizes is not merely the accumulation of wealth, but the fundamental human fear of loss.

Nominalized clause as subject 'shōchō suru no wa'.

Häufige Kollokationen

金庫を開ける

金庫に預ける

金庫の鍵

金庫の暗証番号

耐火金庫

金庫を破る

金庫の中身

金庫番

手提げ金庫

金庫に保管する

Häufige Phrasen

金庫の底

— The very bottom of the safe; implies something hidden for a long time.

金庫の底から古い写真が出てきた。

金庫の主

— The owner of the safe; the person in control of the wealth.

彼がこの屋敷の金庫の主だ。

空の金庫

— An empty safe; implies bankruptcy or being robbed.

泥棒が入った後、金庫は空だった。

金庫のダイヤル

— The combination dial of a safe.

金庫のダイヤルを慎重に回す。

金庫の壁

— The thick walls of a safe; implies extreme protection.

金庫の壁は非常に厚い。

金庫の扉

— The door of the safe.

重い金庫の扉が開いた。

暗証番号式金庫

— A safe that uses a PIN code.

最近は暗証番号式金庫が人気だ。

指紋照合金庫

— A biometric fingerprint safe.

指紋照合金庫はセキュリティが高い。

金庫の鍵穴

— The keyhole of the safe.

鍵穴に鍵を差し込む。

隠し金庫

— A hidden safe.

壁の後ろに隠し金庫があった。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

金庫 vs 銀行 (Ginkō)

Sounds similar but means the bank building/institution.

金庫 vs 倉庫 (Sōko)

Means a general warehouse for large items, not a safe for money.

金庫 vs 車庫 (Shako)

Means a garage for cars.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"口に金庫をかける"

— To keep a secret extremely strictly, as if locking one's mouth.

その件については口に金庫をかけている。

Metaphorical

"金庫を叩いて渡る"

— To be extremely cautious with money (a play on 'ishi-bashi wo tataite wataru').

彼は金庫を叩いて渡るような慎重な男だ。

Humorous/Rare

"金庫が笑う"

— To have plenty of money (rare, implies the safe is happy).

商売が繁盛して金庫が笑っている。

Archaic

"金庫を空にする"

— To spend every last penny.

ギャンブルで金庫を空にした。

Informal

"金庫の番人"

— A person who is very stingy or very protective of funds.

彼はわが社の厳しい金庫の番人だ。

Neutral

"開かずの金庫"

— A safe that cannot be opened; often used for mysteries.

蔵の奥に開かずの金庫がある。

Common

"金庫に鍵をかける"

— To secure something permanently.

その思い出は心の金庫に鍵をかけた。

Poetic

"金庫の紐を締める"

— To tighten the budget (similar to 'saifu no himo').

不景気なので金庫の紐を締める。

Neutral

"金庫を潤す"

— To bring in a lot of profit.

新製品のヒットが会社の金庫を潤した。

Formal

"金庫の底を叩く"

— To use up the last of the reserves.

ついに金庫の底を叩く事態になった。

Neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

金庫 vs 貯金箱 (Chokinbako)

Both hold money.

Chokinbako is for saving small coins (piggy bank); Kinko is for high security.

子供は貯金箱を使い、大人は金庫を使う。

金庫 vs レジ (Reji)

Both are boxes used for cash in stores.

Reji is used for active transactions; Kinko is for long-term storage.

レジの売上を金庫に移す。

金庫 vs ロッカー (Rokkā)

Both are lockable storage.

Rokkā is for clothes/bags; Kinko is for valuables and is fireproof.

駅のロッカーに荷物を預ける。

金庫 vs 財布 (Saifu)

Both hold money.

Saifu is a wallet you carry; Kinko is a heavy box that stays put.

財布からお金を出して金庫に入れる。

金庫 vs 宝箱 (Takarabako)

Both hold treasures.

Takarabako is a 'treasure chest' (often in games/stories); Kinko is a real-world safe.

海賊は宝箱を探し、銀行員は金庫を守る。

Satzmuster

[Object] は金庫の中です。

お金は金庫の中です。

金庫に [Object] を入れました。

金庫に時計を入れました。

金庫を [Verb-te] ください。

金庫を閉めてください。

金庫の [Noun] を忘れました。

金庫の番号を忘れました。

[Noun] は金庫に保管されています。

書類は金庫に保管されています。

金庫を [Verb-volitional] とする。

金庫を開けようとする。

金庫株を [Verb] ことで [Result]。

金庫株を消却することで利益を上げる。

金庫という [Noun] は [Metaphor]。

金庫という器は、所有欲の象徴である。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

金庫

信用金庫

貸金庫

耐火金庫

手提げ金庫

金庫番

Verben

金庫に入れる

金庫から出す

金庫を破る

Adjektive

金庫のような

Verwandt

銀行

宝物

鍵

暗証番号

倉庫

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frequency

Common in daily life, especially regarding banking and home security.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'Ginko' for safe. → Kinko
Ginko is the bank building; Kinko is the metal box.
Saying 'Kinko wo hairu' (Enter the safe). → Kinko ni ireru
You put things 'into' (ireru) the safe, you don't 'enter' it unless it's a giant vault.
Confusing 'Kinko' with 'Chokinbako'. → Kinko
Don't use 'kinko' for a plastic piggy bank.
Using 'Kinko' for a gym locker. → Rokkā
A safe is for valuables; a locker is for general belongings.
Thinking 'Kinko' is only for money. → Kinko
It's for anything precious, including documents and jewelry.

Tipps

Fireproofing is Key

In Japan, a 'kinko' is often judged by its fireproof rating because of the history of wooden houses and frequent fires.

Safe vs. Bank

Remember: Kinko (Safe) starts with 'K' like 'Key'. Ginkō (Bank) starts with 'G' like 'Gold' (though both involve money!).

The 'Ko' Family

Learn 'kinko' along with 'reizōko' (fridge) and 'shoko' (library) to master the 'storage' kanji.

Hotel Security

If you can't find the safe, ask: 'Kinko wa doko desu ka?'

The Treasurer

In a club or small group, the person holding the cash is the 'kinko-ban'.

Action Particles

Use 'ni' to put things in, 'kara' to take things out.

Radical Check

The kanji 庫 has the 'roof' radical, indicating a building or enclosure.

Kin's Co.

Imagine 'Kin' (Gold) and 'Co.' (Company) keeping their secrets in a safe.

Locking Verb

The verb for locking a safe is 'kagi wo kakeru'.

Dial vs. Key

Old safes use 'daiyaru' (dial); new ones use 'denshi rokku' (electronic lock).

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'KING' (Kin) who keeps his 'COins' (Ko) in a safe. King-Co = Kinko.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a heavy gold (Kin) box inside a warehouse (Ko).

Word Web

Money Gold Safe Vault Lock Key Security Bank

Herausforderung

Try to find 3 items in your house that you would put in a Kinko and name them in Japanese.

Wortherkunft

The word is composed of two Kanji: 'Kin' (金) meaning gold or money, and 'Ko' (庫) meaning warehouse or storage. It dates back to the early modern period when specialized boxes were made to store precious metals.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A specialized warehouse for gold.

Sino-Japanese (Kango).

Kultureller Kontext

Avoid implying that everyone who has a safe is rich; in Japan, it's often for legal documents.

In English, 'safe' is an adjective and a noun. In Japanese, 'kinko' is strictly the noun for the box.

Lupin III (frequently cracking safes) Detective Conan (mysteries involving safes) The '300 Million Yen Robbery' (famous Japanese heist)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At a Bank

貸金庫を使いたい
金庫を開けてください
暗証番号を確認する
手数料はいくらですか

In a Hotel

金庫はどこですか
使い方がわかりません
鍵が開きません
貴重品を預けたい

At Home

金庫にしまっておく
火事に備える
印鑑は金庫の中だ
重くて動かせない

In Business

金庫番に聞く
金庫株を買う
重要書類の保管
金庫の管理責任者

In a Mystery Story

金庫のダイヤルを回す
隠し金庫を発見する
金庫の中身が消えた
暗号を解く

Gesprächseinstiege

"ホテルの部屋に金庫はありますか？ (Is there a safe in the hotel room?)"

"大事な書類はどこに保管していますか？金庫ですか？ (Where do you store important documents? In a safe?)"

"信用金庫と普通の銀行の違いは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the difference between a credit union and a normal bank?)"

"もし絶対に開かない金庫があったら、中には何が入っていると思いますか？ (If there were a safe that absolutely wouldn't open, what do you think would be inside?)"

"手提げ金庫を使ったことがありますか？ (Have you ever used a portable cash box?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

もし自分専用の金庫があったら、何を入れたいですか？ (If you had your own safe, what would you want to put in it?)

日本の「信用金庫」という名前についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the name 'Shinyo Kinko' in Japan?)

デジタル化が進む中で、物理的な金庫は必要だと思いますか？ (Do you think physical safes are necessary as digitalization progresses?)

金庫の中に隠された秘密についての短い物語を書いてください。 (Write a short story about a secret hidden inside a safe.)

あなたにとって、お金よりも金庫に入れて守りたいものは何ですか？ (What is something more important than money that you would want to protect in a safe?)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, while the kanji includes 'money,' it is used for anything valuable, including jewelry, passports, and important legal documents.

It is a Japanese credit union. Unlike big commercial banks, they are regional non-profit cooperatives that serve local residents and small businesses.

Yes, especially in detective or heist anime like Lupin III or Detective Conan, where cracking a safe is a common plot point.

Yes, 'kinko' covers everything from a small home safe to a large bank vault. For a very large one, you can say 'daikinko'.

The most common term is 'kinko-yaburi' (金庫破り), which literally means 'safe breaking'.

They are usually called 'sēfuti bokkusu' or 'kinko'. Most modern ones are electronic and require you to set a 4-digit code.

Mainly to protect important documents (like land deeds) and the official family seal (jitsuin) from fire and theft.

It's a safe deposit box that you rent from a bank to store items outside your home.

It's a standard neutral noun. It's used in everyday speech as well as formal business reports.

Yes, 'denshi kinko' (electronic safe) or 'dejitaru kinko' (digital vault) are becoming more common terms.

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