Meaning
The kanji 楼 (ロウ, rō) primarily means 'tower,' 'multi-storied building,' or 'mansion.' It refers to tall, often elaborate structures with multiple floors. While it can denote a modern high-rise, 楼 often carries a more traditional or classical nuance. Think of historical pavilions, watchtowers, or stately multi-storied residences.
Its visual composition offers clues to its meaning. The left-hand radical, 木 (き), means 'tree' or 'wood,' suggesting that historically, many tall structures were built from wood. The right-hand component, 娄 (ロウ), acts as a phonetic element, indicating the 'ロウ' sound. Interestingly, 娄 can also imply 'stacked' or 'layered,' like intertwined threads or a net. This subtly reinforces the idea of a multi-storied or tiered structure. Therefore, the kanji effectively combines the material (wood) with the form (stacked layers) to represent a tall, multi-storied building. 楼 has 13 strokes and is an advanced kanji. It's not assigned to a specific school grade but appears at the JLPT N1 level, indicating its more specialized vocabulary.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
On'yomi (音読み) readings for 楼 are derived from Chinese pronunciation. They are almost exclusively used when 楼 appears as part of a compound word. The primary On'yomi for 楼 is ロウ (RŌ).
ロウ (RŌ): This is the only common On'yomi for 楼. It appears in a wide variety of compound words referring to different types of tall structures and is never used alone.
高楼 (kōrō) — tall building, high-rise. This refers to any building that stands conspicuously high, like a modern office tower.
摩天楼 (matenrō) — skyscraper. A more specific term for extremely tall, modern buildings, such as those found in major cities.
楼閣 (rōkaku) — multi-storied building, pavilion, turret. Often used for traditional, elegant structures in temples, gardens, or historical castles.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Unlike many kanji, 楼 has no commonly used Kun'yomi (訓読み) readings. This means it doesn't form a standalone native Japanese word. Instead, it almost exclusively appears in combination with other kanji to form compounds, utilizing its On'yomi reading of ロウ. This pattern is common for kanji representing more abstract concepts or specialized architectural terms, where native Japanese often uses different words or descriptive phrases. Therefore, when you encounter 楼, expect it to be part of a compound word and pronounced ロウ.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 楼 frequently appears in words related to architecture, especially various types of towers and multi-storied buildings. You'll also find it in more poetic or historical contexts.
General Buildings & Structures:
高楼 (kōrō) — tall building, high-rise.
摩天楼 (matenrō) — skyscraper.
楼閣 (rōkaku) — multi-storied building, pavilion, turret.
展望楼 (tenbōrō) — observation tower.
Specific Types of Towers:
望楼 (bōrō) — watchtower, lookout tower.
鐘楼 (shōrō) — bell tower (common in temples).
鼓楼 (korō) — drum tower.
Historical & Poetic Usage:
青楼 (seirō) — brothel (an archaic and poetic term).
紅楼 (kōrō) — crimson tower (often used poetically to refer to a beautiful mansion or women's quarters).
朱楼 (shurō) — vermillion tower (similar to 紅楼, often associated with luxury or traditional Chinese architecture).
Architectural Elements:
楼台 (rōdai) — tower and platform, terrace.
楼門 (rōmon) — two-storied gate (especially at temples or shrines).
Example Sentences
都市の夜景は、輝く摩天楼が織りなすアートのようだ。
Toshi no yakei wa, kagayaku matenrō ga orinasu āto no yō da.
The city's night view is like art woven by gleaming skyscrapers.
古い寺の鐘楼から、厳かな鐘の音が響き渡った。
Furui tera no shōrō kara, ogosoka na kane no ne ga hibikiwatatta.
From the old temple's bell tower, a solemn bell sound echoed.
公園の中に建てられた展望楼からは、街全体が見渡せる。
Kōen no naka ni taterareta tenbōrō kara wa, machi zentai ga miwataseru.
From the observation tower built in the park, the entire city can be seen.
歴史的な楼閣は、観光客に人気のスポットだ。
Rekishi-teki na rōkaku wa, kankōkyaku ni ninki no supotto da.
The historical pavilion is a popular spot for tourists.
彼は高楼の最上階にあるオフィスで働いている。
Kare wa kōrō no saijōkai ni aru ofisu de hataraite iru.
He works in an office on the top floor of a high-rise building.
城の望楼からは、敵の動きを監視していた。
Shiro no bōrō kara wa, teki no ugoki o kanshi shite ita.
From the castle's watchtower, they monitored enemy movements.
その昔、青楼は文人たちも集まる文化の中心でもあった。
Sono mukashi, seirō wa bunjin-tachi mo atsumaru bunka no chūshin demo atta.
In ancient times, brothels were also cultural centers where literati gathered.
仏教寺院の壮麗な楼門を潜ると、別世界に入ったかのようだ。
Bukkyō jiin no sōrei na rōmon o kuguru to, bessekai ni haitta ka no yō da.
Passing through the magnificent two-storied gate of the Buddhist temple is like entering another world.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 楼, break it down by its components: 木 (tree/wood) on the left and 娄 (lóu, meaning 'repeat' or 'net,' and also phonetic) on the right. Visualize a tall building constructed from wood. Its stories are stacked repeatedly, reaching upwards like a complex net of beams and floors. The 'wood' radical reminds you of traditional building materials. Meanwhile, the 'repeat' or 'layered' aspect of 娄 visually suggests the many floors of a tower. This image of a 'layered wooden tower' directly links the kanji's form to its meaning of 'tower' or 'multi-storied building.'