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March 24, 2026
楼(樓)lóu(Lou2)
The character 楼 (lóu) refers to a multi-story building or a floor in a building. It is commonly used in urban contexts when discussing apartments, offices, or any structure with two or more levels. Additionally, 楼 can also be a surname in Chinese culture.
Strokes13Radical木Frequency#872DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese cities, tall buildings like skyscrapers are a symbol of modernity and economic growth, making the term 楼 central to discussions about urban development. Additionally, many traditional Chinese buildings, such as '楼阁' (lóugé), are integral to the culture's architectural heritage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall building with many floors, each represented by the character 楼. The left part of the character, the radical '木' (mù), suggests the construction material (wood) of these buildings, while the right part '婁' (lóu) sounds like 'low' but is high up in the sky—just like a multi-story building!
Meanings of 楼
lóu(Lou2)
1house with more than 1 story
2storied building
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 楼
楼Simplified
樓Traditional
13Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#872Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 楼
Podcast: 楼
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AI Study Notes for 楼
Quick Contrast
大楼 (dàlóu) refers specifically to a large building, while 楼 (lóu) can refer to any multi-story building regardless of size.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tall building with many floors, each represented by the character 楼. The left part of the character, the radical '木' (mù), suggests the construction material (wood) of these buildings, while the right part '婁' (lóu) sounds like 'low' but is high up in the sky—just like a multi-story building!
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 楼 with 层 (céng), which specifically refers to a floor within a building, while 楼 denotes the building itself. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the correct collocations, such as '高楼' (tall building) or '楼层' (floor level).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 楼 connects well with other related vocabulary like 房子 (fángzi - house) and 层 (céng - floor). Students should focus on using 楼 in context, especially when discussing buildings or locations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cities, tall buildings like skyscrapers are a symbol of modernity and economic growth, making the term 楼 central to discussions about urban development. Additionally, many traditional Chinese buildings, such as '楼阁' (lóugé), are integral to the culture's architectural heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 楼 with the character 层 (céng), mistakenly saying '这层楼' (zhè céng lóu) when they mean '这栋楼' (zhè dòng lóu). The correct usage specifies the type of structure rather than its level.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 楼
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Grammar Patterns of 楼
楼 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
At the top of the stairs stood the white-coated doctors.
9
他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。
tā de chē huá dào le dà lóu de yī cè， ， dǐ zhù。
He slewed the car against the side of the building.
10
那位要人到达时，俱乐部经理亲自陪他上楼。
nà wèi yào rén dào dá shí， ， jù lè bù jīng lǐ qīn zì péi tā shàng。
When the great man arrived, the club's manager personally escorted him upstairs.
Cultural Notes for 楼
💡Did you know?
In Chinese architecture, buildings with multiple stories are often called '楼'. These can be residential, commercial, or mixed-use buildings, showcasing the importance of urban living.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cities, tall buildings like skyscrapers are a symbol of modernity and economic growth, making the term 楼 central to discussions about urban development. Additionally, many traditional Chinese buildings, such as '楼阁' (lóugé), are integral to the culture's architectural heritage.
Word Family of 楼
Words Containing This Character20
楼lóufloor樓
大楼dàlóubuilding (a relatively large, multi-storey one)大樓
楼下lóuxiàdownstairs樓下
楼上lóushàngupstairs樓上
楼梯lóutīstair樓梯
阁楼garret閣樓
上楼shànglóuto go upstairs上樓
楼顶top of a building樓頂
五角大楼the Pentagon五角大樓
写字楼xiězìlóuoffice building寫字樓
楼房lóufánga building of two or more stories樓房
楼层story樓層
办公楼office building辦公樓
红楼梦A Dream of Red Mansions (first completed edition 1791) by Cao Xueqin 曹雪芹[CáoXuěqín], one of the four great novels紅樓夢
跳楼to jump from a building (to kill oneself)跳樓
酒楼jiǔlóurestaurant酒樓
顶楼top floor頂樓
高楼high building高樓
楼道lóudàocorridor樓道
钟楼bell tower鐘樓
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 楼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 楼
楼 (lóu) specifically refers to a building or floor, while 房子 (fángzi) means 'house' and usually refers to single-story homes. In urban contexts, 楼 is often used to describe apartments or multi-story structures, whereas 房子 can refer to any type of residential dwelling.
楼 (lóu) means 'building' or 'floor' in Chinese. It typically refers to a multi-story house or a storied building, and can also be used in contexts related to architecture. For example, '二楼' (èr lóu) means 'second floor'.
You can use 楼 (lóu) in sentences to describe a specific floor or type of building. For example, you might say '我住在三楼' (wǒ zhù zài sān lóu), which means 'I live on the third floor'. It's a common word used in everyday conversation about homes or buildings.
You can say '这栋楼有五层' (zhè dòng lóu yǒu wǔ céng) meaning 'This building has five floors.'
Not necessarily; 楼 can refer to any multi-story building, regardless of height, including both residential and commercial structures.
Yes, 楼 is commonly used in informal conversations, especially when talking about places to live or work.
