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下楼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
下楼xiàlóugo downstairsHSK 4, unknown, 16 strokes, Medium
xiàlóu(xia4 lou2)
  1. 1go downstairs
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March 24, 2026

下楼xiàlóu(xia4 lou2)

下楼 (xiàlóu) means 'to go down the stairs' or 'to descend from a building.' It is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as when someone is leaving their home or moving to a lower floor in a building. The character 下 implies 'down' and 楼 refers to 'building' or 'floor.'

Strokes16DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, buildings often have multiple floors, and it is common for people to descend to socialize or attend community activities on the ground floor. This reflects the importance of community interaction in public spaces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person, tired from climbing too many floors, finally deciding to 下楼 (xiàlóu) to enjoy a nice cup of tea on the ground floor. The 下 (xià) looks like a downward arrow, reminding you that you are going down, while 楼 (lóu) resembles the multiple levels of a building, indicating the place you are descending from.

Meanings of 下楼

xiàlóu(xia4 lou2)
1go downstairs
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About 下楼

下楼Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 下楼

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Podcast: 下楼

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AI Study Notes for 下楼

Quick Contrast

下去 (xiàqù) vs 下楼 (xiàlóu): use 下楼 when specifically referring to going down stairs, while 下去 can refer to going down in a more general sense.

Usage Notes

It is important to use the correct tone, as 下 (xià) is the fourth tone and 楼 (lóu) is the second tone. Common mistakes include confusing it with 上楼 (shànglóu), which means 'to go up the stairs.' This word is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 下楼 may not appear directly in HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can help with other HSK words that involve movement, such as 上 (shàng) and 出 (chū). Focus on the tones and usage in sentences to reinforce learning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up the tones, saying 'xiálóu' instead of 'xiàlóu.' Some may also incorrectly use it in contexts where they mean to say 'to leave' without specifying that it's downwards, which can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 下楼

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Component Characters

下xiàdown
HSK 13 strokes一
View full entry
楼lóuhouse with more than 1 story
HSK 213 strokes木
View full entry

How to say go downstairs in Chinese

“go downstairs” in Chinese is下楼xiàlóu

下楼 (xiàlóu) means 'to go down the stairs' or 'to descend from a building.' It is commonly used in everyday contexts, such as when someone is leaving their home or moving to a lower floor in a building. The character 下 implies 'down' and 楼 refers to 'building' or 'floor.'

When to use 下楼

It is important to use the correct tone, as 下 (xià) is the fourth tone and 楼 (lóu) is the second tone. Common mistakes include confusing it with 上楼 (shànglóu), which means 'to go up the stairs.' This word is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.

下楼 or something close to it

下去 (xiàqù) vs 下楼 (xiàlóu): use 下楼 when specifically referring to going down stairs, while 下去 can refer to going down in a more general sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up the tones, saying 'xiálóu' instead of 'xiàlóu.' Some may also incorrectly use it in contexts where they mean to say 'to leave' without specifying that it's downwards, which can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 下楼

下
楼

Practice writing 下楼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 下楼

下楼 means 'to go down the stairs' while 上楼 means 'to go up the stairs.' They are opposites.

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