‘高楼’ literally combines ‘高’ (gāo), meaning ‘high’ or ‘tall’, and ‘楼’ (lóu), meaning ‘building’ or ‘floor/level of a building’. Together, it refers specifically to a tall, multi-story building—typically one with many floors, often found in urban areas. Unlike the more technical term ‘摩天大楼’ (skyscraper), ‘高楼’ is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech and writing to describe any noticeably tall residential, commercial, or office building.

The word carries no inherent connotation of modernity or luxury—it can refer to older high-rises as well as new ones—but it does imply vertical scale and density, distinguishing it from low-rise structures like ‘平房’ (bungalow) or ‘小楼’ (small building). It frequently appears in descriptions of cityscapes, real estate, transportation routes, and environmental discussions about urban living.