蔵書

• Reading: ぞうしょ
• Romaji: zousho
• Kanji breakdown: 蔵 (zō) — store, storehouse; 書 (sho) — book, writing
• Pronunciation: /zo.ː.ɕo/

Meaning

Book collection; personal library; holdings. The collection of books owned by an individual or institution.

A noun used to describe a curated collection of books, whether personal or institutional. The compound suggests books that are deliberately 'stored' or 'kept' — implying a serious, considered collection rather than a casual pile of volumes. Common in library science, literary estates, and cultural heritage contexts. 蔵書印 (zōshoin — book ownership seal/stamp) is a related term for the personal seal pressed into books to mark ownership.

Examples

1. 彼の蔵書は死後に大学図書館に寄贈された。 His book collection was donated to the university library after his death.
2. 個人の蔵書が五万冊を超えるという噂は本当だった。 The rumor that his personal library exceeded fifty thousand volumes turned out to be true.
3. 蔵書印が押されていることで、その本の由来が分かる。 The provenance of a book can be determined by the ownership seal stamped on it.

Usage Guide

Context: libraries, literary estates, book collecting

Tone: informational

Origin & History

From 蔵 (zō — to store, a storehouse) and 書 (sho — book, writing). The image is of books stored away in a repository — fitting for a personal or institutional collection maintained with care over time.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Scholars, book collectors

Social background: Educated