A2 noun 중립 2분 분량

れいぞうこ

reizoko /reizoːko/
Practice it

Overview

The Japanese word for 'refrigerator' is れいぞうこ (reizouko), written in hiragana. In kanji, it is written as 冷蔵庫. Let's break down its components to understand its meaning better:

  • 冷 (rei): This kanji means 'cold' or 'cool.' You'll see it in other words related to coldness, such as 冷たい (tsumetai, meaning 'cold' or 'chilly' for touch) or 冷静 (reisei, meaning 'calm' or 'composed').
  • 蔵 (zou): This kanji means 'storage' or 'warehouse.' It implies a place where things are kept or stored. Another common word using this kanji is 貯蔵 (chozou), which also means 'storage' or 'preservation.'
  • 庫 (ko): This kanji means 'storehouse,' 'warehouse,' or 'depot.' It often refers to a place specifically designed for keeping things, like 倉庫 (souko, meaning 'warehouse') or 車庫 (shako, meaning 'garage').

So, when you put them together, 冷蔵庫 literally translates to 'cold storage house' or 'cold storage depot,' which perfectly describes a refrigerator. This compound word elegantly captures the function of the appliance: a compartment designed for the cold storage of food and other perishables.

In everyday conversation, 冷蔵庫 is the standard and most commonly used term. When talking about the appliance, people will simply say れいぞうこ. For example, you might hear phrases like:

  • 冷蔵庫に入れる (reizouko ni ireru): To put something in the refrigerator.
  • 冷蔵庫から出す (reizouko kara dasu): To take something out of the refrigerator.
  • 冷蔵庫が空っぽだ (reizouko ga karappo da): The refrigerator is empty.

Understanding the individual kanji not only helps in memorizing the word but also provides insight into how Japanese words are often constructed, combining simpler concepts to form more complex ones. It's a very straightforward and descriptive term that leaves no room for ambiguity about what it refers to.

예시

1

れいぞうこに牛乳があります。

Daily life

There is milk in the refrigerator.

2

新しいれいぞうこを買いました。

Shopping, household appliances

I bought a new refrigerator.

3

このれいぞうこは小さいですね。

Observation, comparison

This refrigerator is small, isn't it?

4

食べ物をれいぞうこに入れましょう。

Cooking, food storage

Let's put the food in the refrigerator.

5

れいぞうこの中が空っぽです。

Daily life, household inventory

The inside of the refrigerator is empty.

자주 쓰는 조합

れいぞうこ に いれる (put in the refrigerator)
ふるい れいぞうこ (old refrigerator)
れいぞうこ が こわれる (refrigerator breaks down)
れいぞうこ を あける (open the refrigerator)

자주 혼동되는 단어

れいぞうこ vs れいぞう

There is an additional 'こ' sound in 'れいぞうこ' which refers to the 'ko' (child) kanji, meaning a small or young one. In this context, it adds a nuance of a container or a small room for refrigeration, making it 'refrigerator' as a whole. 'Reizou' on its own means 'refrigeration' or 'cold storage' as a concept.

れいぞうこ vs れいとこ

'れいぞうこ' (reizōko) refers to a refrigerator, which typically includes both a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. 'れいとこ' (reitōko) specifically refers to a freezer, the part that keeps food frozen solid. While a refrigerator contains a freezer, the terms are not interchangeable when referring to the entire appliance vs. just the freezing component.

문법 패턴

れいぞうこ に 〜 が あります (reizōko ni ~ ga arimasu) - There is/are ~ in the refrigerator. れいぞうこ から 〜 を だします (reizōko kara ~ o dashimasu) - Take ~ out of the refrigerator. れいぞうこ に 〜 を いれます (reizōko ni ~ o iremasu) - Put ~ in the refrigerator.

How to Use It

사용 참고사항

The pronunciation of 'reizouko' is あんじ (rei-zou-ko), with 'rei' sounding like 'ray', 'zou' like the 'zo' in 'zone', and 'ko' like 'co' in 'cold'. The 'ou' in 'reizou' is a long vowel sound. It is a common noun and is used in everyday conversation to refer to the appliance. For example, one might say '冷蔵庫に牛乳があります' (Reizouko ni gyuunyuu ga arimasu) meaning 'There is milk in the refrigerator.' Or, '新しい冷蔵庫を買いたい' (Atarashii reizouko o kaitai) meaning 'I want to buy a new refrigerator.' There aren't significant formal or informal variations; 'reizouko' is generally appropriate in most contexts. When referring to specific types, one might add descriptors, such as '小型冷蔵庫' (kogata reizouko - mini-fridge) or '業務用冷蔵庫' (gyoumu-you reizouko - commercial refrigerator).

자주 하는 실수

Some common mistakes include mispronouncing the double vowel 'ei' or confusing it with similar-sounding words. Another common error is incorrectly using particles with 'reizouko' when forming sentences. For example, using 'ni' instead of 'o' when referring to putting something in the refrigerator. Additionally, people sometimes forget the long 'o' sound at the end, making it sound like 'reizouko' instead of 'reizoukō'.

Tips

💡

Use of 'れいぞうこ' in daily conversation

In Japan, 'れいぞうこ' (reizouko) is a common household item, just like in many other countries. You'll hear it used when talking about storing food, getting drinks, or cleaning the kitchen. For example, 'れいぞうこに牛乳がある' (reizouko ni gyuunyuu ga aru) means 'There's milk in the refrigerator,' or 'れいぞうこを掃除する' (reizouko o souji suru) means 'I'm going to clean the refrigerator.' It's a straightforward term with direct application.

💡

Politeness and formality with 'れいぞうこ'

While 'れいぞうこ' is a perfectly polite and standard term, in very formal settings or when speaking with someone of much higher status, one might add polite suffixes, though it's less common for inanimate objects. For instance, you wouldn't typically say 'おれいぞうこ' (o-reizouko) as you might with some other nouns. It's generally used as-is. The context of its use (e.g., in a polite sentence structure) conveys formality rather than modifying the word itself.

💡

Related vocabulary and concepts

Understanding 'れいぞうこ' can open up related vocabulary. For instance, '冷凍庫' (reitouko) means 'freezer,' which is often a component of a refrigerator. '冷蔵' (reizou) means 'refrigeration' or 'cold storage.' You might also encounter terms like '食品' (shokuhin - food), '飲み物' (nomimono - drinks), or '保存' (hozon - preservation), all of which are frequently associated with refrigerators. Knowing these can help you build more complex sentences and understand discussions about food storage.

어원

The word 'reizouko' (冷蔵庫) is a compound of three kanji: 'rei' (冷), meaning 'cold'; 'zou' (蔵), meaning 'storehouse' or 'hide away'; and 'ko' (庫), meaning 'warehouse' or 'depot'. Thus, literally translated, it means 'cold storage warehouse'. Before the widespread adoption of electric refrigerators, people in Japan, like in many parts of the world, used various methods to preserve food, such as salting, drying, fermentation, and using natural ice houses or cellars to keep things cool. The concept of artificially cooling and storing food for extended periods gained prominence with the advent of modern refrigeration technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term 'reizouko' began to be used as electric refrigerators became available and started to be imported into Japan, and later, manufactured domestically. The kanji combination effectively describes the function of the appliance: a place where things are kept cold for storage. The use of 'ko' (庫) in this context is similar to its use in words like 'shokko' (書庫, library/archive - literally 'document storehouse') or 'kinko' (金庫, safe - literally 'money storehouse'), indicating a specialized storage area. The kanji 'rei' (冷) is commonly found in other cold-related terms such as 'reitou' (冷凍, freezing), 'reiki' (冷気, cold air), and 'reitouko' (冷凍庫, freezer). The kanji 'zou' (蔵) is also seen in words like 'dozoku' (土蔵, traditional Japanese storehouse built with earth walls) and 'shuzo' (酒造, sake brewing - literally 'sake making and storing'). The word 'reizouko' itself is a direct and functional description of the appliance, reflecting the period when such technology was a novel innovation. It became the standard term and is universally understood in modern Japanese to refer to a refrigerator.

문화적 맥락

The word 'reizouko' (冷蔵庫) for refrigerator reflects a common household item in modern Japan, much like in many other developed countries. Historically, traditional Japanese homes relied on cooler spaces, cellars, or natural ice to preserve food, especially during colder months. The introduction of electric refrigerators became widespread after World War II, symbolizing a modernization of the Japanese household and an improvement in living standards. Today, refrigerators are an indispensable appliance in virtually every Japanese home, varying in size and features to suit different living situations, from small apartments to larger family homes. They are often stocked with a variety of fresh ingredients for traditional Japanese cooking, such as miso, soy sauce, fresh produce, and sometimes pre-made side dishes bought from supermarkets or convenience stores.

암기 팁

Visualize a refrigerator filled with 'rei' (zero) things, making it 'zou' (elephant)-like in its emptiness, and you 'ko' (come) to realize it's a refrigerator.

자주 묻는 질문

4 질문

The Japanese word for 'refrigerator' is 'れいぞうこ' (reizouko). This term is widely used across Japan to refer to the common kitchen appliance that keeps food and drinks cold. It's a combination of 'rei' (cold), 'zou' (storage), and 'ko' (cabinet or box), literally translating to 'cold storage box'. Understanding this word is essential for anyone living in or visiting Japan, especially when shopping for appliances, discussing household items, or navigating daily life.

Certainly! The romaji spelling for 'れいぞうこ' is 'reizouko'. When pronouncing it, 'rei' is like the 'ray' in 'ray of sunshine'. 'Zou' is similar to the 'zo' in 'zoo', but with a slightly softer 'z' sound. Finally, 'ko' is pronounced like the 'co' in 'code'. So, it sounds like 'ray-zoh-koh'. Paying attention to the long 'o' sound in 'zou' is key for accurate pronunciation, as it helps distinguish it from similar-sounding words in Japanese.

Absolutely. 'れいぞうこ' is a very common word in daily Japanese conversation. For instance, you might hear 'れいぞうこにしまって' (reizouko ni shimatte), which means 'put it in the refrigerator'. Another common phrase is 'れいぞうこがからっぽだ' (reizouko ga karappo da), meaning 'the refrigerator is empty'. When talking about buying a new one, you might say 'あたらしいれいぞうこをかう' (atarashii reizouko o kau), which means 'buy a new refrigerator'. It's a fundamental word for discussing household chores, groceries, and kitchen appliances.

The kanji for 'れいぞうこ' is 冷蔵庫. Let's break it down: '冷' (rei) means 'cold', '蔵' (zō) means 'storehouse' or 'to store', and '庫' (ko) means 'warehouse' or 'depot'. When combined, they form 'refrigerator' or 'cold storage house'. While hiragana (れいぞうこ) is often used in casual writing or for younger audiences, the kanji form is prevalent in formal documents, appliance descriptions, and more mature texts. Knowing the kanji can also help in understanding other related words with similar components.

셀프 테스트

fill blank

冷蔵庫に牛乳があります。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

新しい___を買いました。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:
fill blank

___の中は空っぽです。

정답! 아쉬워요. 정답:

점수: /3

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