Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz
New week, new question:
工場 can be read as こうば and こうじょう. My dictionary defines them similarly (factory, plant, workshop vs. factory, plant, mill).
Is there any subtle difference between these readings? Does こうば have more to do with building machines and such while こうじょう is something different? Or is it just aesthetic preference?
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Yes, there is.
When we hear こうば, we tend to think of a smaller factory run by Mom and Dad or two brothers with no more than a dozen employees.
こうじょう is used for larger ones.
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That said, we need to discuss an exception, which incidentally has to do with aesthetics that you mentioned.
Older "real craftsman" types do tend to prefer using こうば to refer to their workplace even if it is a huge Toyota plant with 4,000 employees that they are referring to. They are the proud blue-collar workman types.