Translation guide
A tall building containing apartments or offices, common in urban areas. In Japanese, the term depends on the building's use, height, and formality.
A tall residential building with many floors, typically in a city.
The most common term for a high-rise apartment building. 'マンション' in Japanese refers to a condominium or apartment building, not a luxury house.
彼は都心の高層マンションに住んでいる。
He lives in a high-rise apartment building in the city center.
Literally 'tower mansion', often used for luxury or landmark high-rise residential buildings, especially those over 20 stories.
このエリアには新しいタワーマンションがたくさん建っている。
Many new tower blocks have been built in this area.
A more formal or technical term for high-rise housing. Used in news or official contexts.
高層住宅の建設が進んでいる。
Construction of high-rise housing is progressing.
A tall building used primarily for offices or commercial purposes.
General term for a high-rise building, often used for office towers. 'ビル' is short for 'building'.
駅前に新しい高層ビルが完成した。
A new tower block was completed in front of the station.
Specifically an office building. Can be used for high-rise offices, but doesn't imply height by itself.
A tall building owned by the local government, providing low-cost housing, often with a negative connotation.
Public housing in general. To specify a tower block, combine with 高層 (e.g., 高層公営住宅).
彼女は高層公営住宅で育った。
She grew up in a tower block (public housing).
A housing complex or estate, often publicly built. Can include high-rise buildings, but not exclusively. Often evokes a specific post-war Japanese style.
In Japanese, マンション usually refers to a modern, often mid- to high-rise apartment building made of reinforced concrete, while アパート refers to a smaller, low-rise wooden or light steel structure. A 'tower block' would almost always be a マンション, not an アパート.
The direct translation 'タワーブロック' is not used in Japanese. Use the terms above depending on context.
Skyscraper; a very tall building, typically over 200 meters. Used for landmark office towers.
東京には多くの超高層ビルがある。
There are many skyscrapers in Tokyo.
あのオフィスビルは30階建てだ。
That office block has 30 floors.
This housing complex has several tower blocks.