The Meaning of reizouko [冷蔵庫] In Japanese

冷蔵庫
れいぞうこ
Romaji: reizouko N5

What does 冷蔵庫 mean?

Translation and Meaning

refrigerator, fridge, cold-storage cabinet

Definition

What does 冷蔵庫 mean? A household appliance that keeps food cold to slow spoilage; in English it is the refrigerator or fridge used in homes and offices.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary meaning: a domestic appliance designed to chill and store perishable foods and beverages.
  • Colloquial usage: commonly called the fridge in everyday English.
  • Related term: 冷凍庫 refers to a freezer and is distinct from a general refrigerator.

Etymology

冷 (rei) + 蔵 (zou) + 庫 (ko) combine to form a three-kanji compound read as reizouko; the word uses on’yomi readings typical of Sino-Japanese coinages and reflects a modern appliance name.

Origin

Introduced to Japan in the early 20th century as electricity and Western-style kitchens spread; the term was coined to describe a new cooling device for home use.

Composition

  • 冷 – cold, cool
  • 蔵 – storehouse, warehouse
  • 庫 – warehouse, storehouse
  • The combination conveys a dedicated cold-storage facility for perishable items, read as 冷蔵庫 (reizouko).

Usage

Used in casual and formal contexts to name the appliance; in product manuals and signage the term 冷蔵庫 is common, while English contexts may use refrigerator or fridge; in everyday speech it refers to household refrigeration rather than industrial cold storage.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine 冷 as cold, 蔵 as a storehouse, and 庫 as a warehouse; three elements together form a device meant to keep things cold — reizouko, the fridge.

Variations

  • 冷蔵機 (れいぞうき, reizouki) — generic cooling device
  • 冷凍庫 (れいとうこ, reitouko) — freezer
  • fridge — English loanword used in casual speech

Example Phrases

  • 冷蔵庫から 野菜を 取り出して 晩ご飯を 作る。
    reizouko kara yasai o toridashite bangohan o tsukuru.
    I take vegetables out of the fridge and make dinner.
    Lista:
    • 冷蔵庫から (reizouko kara) – from the fridge
    • 野菜を (yasai o) – vegetables
    • 取り出して (toridashite) – taking out
    • 晩ご飯を (bangohan o) – dinner
    • 作る (tsukuru) – make
    Use of the source marker から after 「冷蔵庫」 to mean ‘from the fridge’; 取り出して connects the actions as a sequence.
  • 残ったスープを冷やすために冷蔵庫へ入れた。
    Nokatta sūpu o hiyasu tame ni reizouko e ireta.
    I put the leftover soup in the fridge to cool.
    Lista:
    • 残った (nokatta) – left over
    • スープ (sūpu) – soup
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 冷やす (hiyasu) – to cool
    • ために (tame ni) – in order to
    • 冷蔵庫 (reizouko) – refrigerator
    • へ (e) – to
    • 入れた (ireta) – put in
    Aqui o verbo transitivo 「冷やす」 significa ‘to cool’ e é usado com ために para indicar propósito.
冷蔵庫