ビル

• Reading: ビル
• Romaji: biru
• Pronunciation: /bi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

Multi-floor building; office building. A tall structure typically found in urban areas.

A katakana loanword shortened from 'building' (ビルディング). In Japanese, ビル specifically implies a multi-storey concrete or steel structure, usually commercial. It is commonly used in building names (e.g., 東京ビル). Not used for houses or small structures.

Examples

1. あの高いビルは銀行です。 That tall building is a bank.
2. 会社はこのビルの六階にあります。 The company is on the sixth floor of this building.
3. 駅の前にビルがたくさんあります。 There are many buildings in front of the station.

Usage Guide

Context: city, directions, work

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Shortened from English 'building.' The abbreviated form ビル became standard in Japanese, while the full form ビルディング is used only in formal or official contexts.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal