楼

• Pinyin: lóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 楼 = 木 (wood) + 娄 (phonetic component)

Meaning

Building; floor; storey. Refers to a multi-storey structure or a specific floor within one.

Can denote an entire multi-storey building or a particular floor number. Very commonly used when giving addresses and directions. Often combined with numbers to indicate which floor, such as 三楼 (third floor).

Examples

1. 我家在五楼。 My home is on the fifth floor.
2. 这栋楼很高。 This building is very tall.
3. 他住在那个楼里。 He lives in that building.

Usage Guide

Context: location, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我住在三楼。(I live on the third floor.)
• 这栋楼有二十层。(This building has twenty storeys.)

Don't Say

• 我住在一个楼。(Awkward — say 我住在一栋楼里 using the correct measure word 栋 for buildings)

Origin & History

Originally referred to a multi-storey wooden structure. The character combines 木 (wood) and 娄 (phonetic component).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal