図書

• Reading: としょ
• Romaji: tosho
• Kanji breakdown: 図 (to/zu) — diagram, drawing; 書 (sho) — writing, book
• Pronunciation: /to.ɕo/

Meaning

Books; publications. Refers to books as a category or collection.

A noun referring to books in a formal or institutional sense. Rarely used alone in everyday conversation — typically appears in compounds: 図書館 (toshokan, library), 図書室 (toshoshitsu, reading room/school library), 図書カード (tosho kaado, book voucher). The everyday word for 'book' is 本 (hon).

Examples

1. 学校の図書室で勉強するのが好きだ。 I like studying in the school library.
2. 図書カードを使って新しい本を買った。 I bought a new book using a book voucher.
3. この地域には大きな図書館が二つある。 There are two large libraries in this area.

Usage Guide

Context: education, library, publishing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 図 (to/zu, diagram/drawing) and 書 (sho, writing/book). Originally referred to documents with both illustrations and text, later broadened to mean books in general.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal