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道Nihongo Path
楼

楼·multistoreyed building, tower, high building

On-yomi
ロウ
Kun-yomi
none

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
摩天楼まてんろうskyscraper
楼閣ろうかくmany-storeyed building, castle in the air (砂上の楼閣)
鐘楼しょうろうbell tower, belfry
望楼ぼうろうwatchtower, lookout tower

Example sentences

  1. 摩天楼が立ち並ぶ街を歩いた。

    まてんろうがたちならぶまちをあるいた。

    I walked through a city lined with skyscrapers.

  2. その計画は砂上の楼閣にすぎない。

    そのけいかくはさじょうのろうかくにすぎない。

    That plan is nothing but a castle built on sand.

  3. 寺の鐘楼から鐘の音が響いた。

    てらのしょうろうからかねのおとがひびいた。

    The sound of the bell rang out from the temple belfry.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 鐘楼 as しょうるう or かねろう — it is しょうろう
  • Writing 摩天楼 with 桜 — 楼 has 娄 on the right, not 嬰-like 桜

Memory aid

Picture it

Wood 木 with 娄, things piled in layers: a wooden building stacked storey on storey, rising into the sky.

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5

What does the kanji 楼 mean?