金庫
kinko[kʲĩŋko̞]
The Japanese word for vault is 金庫, pronounced kinko.
金庫 is used to describe a secure area or container for valuables. It can refer to a large bank vault or a standard small safe used in offices or homes.
Meaning: secure area for valuables (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 金庫 is composed of the kanji 金, meaning money or gold and 庫, meaning warehouse or storehouse.
Which one should you use?
While 金庫 can describe a large bank vault, it is most commonly used for a standard small safe. If you want to refer specifically to a safety deposit box in a bank, use 貸金庫. If you are referring to a formal vault room, use 金庫室.
How do you pronounce it?
kinko
Did you know?
- The character 庫 in 金庫 is also used in 冷蔵庫 (reizōko), which means 'refrigerator', as both are essentially specialized storehouses.
- While 金庫 means 'safe', the phrase 金庫番 (kinkoban) refers to the person in charge of the money or the treasurer of a group.
- The kanji 庫 in 金庫 is also found in the word for 'library', 圖書館 (toshokan), suggesting that both libraries and safes are essentially 'storehouses' of precious things.
Examples in context
- お金を預けるので、金庫を使えますか？May I use the vault to deposit my money?
- はい、金庫がございますのでご利用いただけます。Yes, we have a vault available for your use.
- 金庫の中に鍵があります。Kinko no naka ni kagi ga arimasu.The key is inside the vault.
- 銀行の金庫は非常に頑丈です。Ginkou no kinko wa hijou ni ganjou desu.The bank vault is very sturdy.
- 大事な書類を金庫にしまいました。Daiji na shorui wo kinko ni shimaimashita.I put the important documents in the vault.
Example conversation
At home, searching for a lost passport.
- 陽太 Yotaパスポートはどこにあるかな？Pasupooto wa doko ni aru kana?I wonder where the passport is?
- 陽葵 Himari金庫を確認してみたら？Kinko wo kakunin shite mitara?Why don't you check the vault?
- 陽太 Yotaあ、金庫の中にあったよ！A, kinko no naka ni atta yo!Ah, it was in the vault!
- 陽葵 Himari本当によかった。Hontou ni yokatta.I am really glad.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 金庫, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
