写字楼 (xiě zì lóu) — office building (commercial, multi-tenant)

Definition

An office building used by companies and businesses (multi-tenant, commercial), distinct from apartment-style 楼房. The pinyin shown is just xiě; the full reading is xiězìlóu.

noun
office building (commercial, multi-tenant)
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 写字楼，。
    Zhè dòng xiě zì lóu zài shì zhōng xīn, jiāo tōng hěn fāng biàn.
    This office building is in the city center, very convenient for transportation.
  • 写字楼。
    Tā men gōng sī zū le zhěng céng xiě zì lóu.
    Their company rented an entire floor of the office building.
  • 写字楼。
    Zhè dòng xīn xiě zì lóu míng nián cái néng wán gōng.
    This new office building won't be completed until next year.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

写字writing characters
写xiěwrite字zìcharacters
动宾Verb + object
楼lóubuilding

写 write and 字 characters suggest office writing done inside, while 楼 marks the building.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寫; 写 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
舄
舄xì寫xiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寫 combines 宀 with 舄 for the sound; this note is about 寫, not the simplified 写.

Open 写 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樓; 楼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu樓lóu
Same sound today

The traditional form 樓 pairs 木 (tree) with 婁 as its sound part; the simplified 楼 is a later shorthand.

Open 楼 →

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