宝库
bǎo kù · HSK 7
treasure-house
💎🏛️ 宝 treasure + 库 storehouse = a vault of precious things
宝 (bǎo) means treasure or precious, and 库 (kù) means storehouse or warehouse. Together they literally say treasure-warehouse — a rich collection, often used figuratively for a book or resource packed with valuable knowledge.
宝 — roof 宀 + jade 玉 (simplified from 寶)
Originally written 寶, showing a roof 宀 over jade 玉, a jar 缶, and shell 貝 (money) — valuables kept safely at home. The simplified form 宝 keeps just the roof and jade, preserving the core idea of 'treasure.' It now means treasure, precious, or valuable.
库 — 广 (shelter) + 车 (cart/vehicle)
库 is a semantic compound combining 广 (a roof or shelter) with 车 (cart or chariot). Originally it depicted a building where chariots and weapons were stored, hence an arsenal or storehouse. The meaning broadened over time to any warehouse, treasury, or storage facility.