More tragic words have never been spoken. Two hours ago you were enjoying the best spicy chicken this side of Chongqing. Now your lunch is having the last laugh. You make eye contact with the man squatting next to you, and notice that his eyes, too, are filled with quiet despair. Listen to our podcast today and learn the magic words we hope you will never have to hear.
 said on
June 15, 2009
This lesson comes from cruel, cruel experience. If you're new to the washroom circuit in China....
 said on
June 16, 2009
Nice introduction to bathroom vocabulary. A bit confusing that washroom and bathroom are sometimes treated as if they mean two different things though, where as they mean exactly the same thing as far as I know, just different words.
 said on
June 16, 2009
Oddly enough Jim, I had the same problem after moving to the States. I totally confused someone once by asking for the bathroom. They mentally flailed for a moment before pointing me at a closet containing sink and a couple of mops.

Not sure if the problem was with that one person, California generally, or Canadian euphemisms. It was a strange experience, anyway.

 said on
June 16, 2009
can i use 大便纸..like 请问,你们这里有卖大便纸吗?
 said on
June 16, 2009
@borneoherbs,

hehe, people can definitely understand you by that. however, it is not quite proper, because 大便is not so ******, you know.

you can ask, 这儿有手纸吗?or 这儿有卫生纸吗?
 said on
June 17, 2009
I have experienced this too many times! 没有手纸,没有手纸!
 said on
June 18, 2009
补充生词 Supplementary Vocabulary from this lesson:

卫生间 [wèishēngjiān] bathroom (lit. "hygiene room")

洗手间 [xǐshǒujiān] washroom (lit. "hand washing room")

手纸 [shǒuzhǐ ] toilet paper (lit. "hand paper")

NOTE: The same characters 手纸 are used in Japanese to mean "letter". Be careful when sending romantic missives.

补充例句 Supplementary Sentences from this lesson:

(卫生间/洗手间)在哪儿?[(wèishēngjiān /xǐshǒujiān) zài nǎr?] Where is the (bathroom/washroom)?

我要去(卫生间/洗手间)。[wǒ yào qù (wèishēngjiān /xǐshǒujiān)] I want to go to the (bathroom/washroom).

我要手纸。[wǒ yào shǒuzhǐ ] I need toilet paper.

没有(卫生间/洗手间/手纸)。[méiyǒu (wèishēngjiān /xǐshǒujiān /shǒuzhǐ] There is no (bathroom/washroom/toilet paper).

VERB + 了 [wánle] is used to show completion of a verb.

了。[chīwánle] to finish eating

了。 [kànwánle] to finish watching/reading

了。 [xǐ wán le] to finish washing

 said on
July 5, 2009
LOVE your sight - will use often in preparation for returning to China.

When I first went 12 years ago, I couldnt understand why my new friend kept offering me tissues when I went to a public bathroom (I wasnt sneezing). Then I realized... theres no TP!!!
 said on
May 23, 2012
When I was in China I learned and used 厕所 to say bathroom and everyone understood. Are the different words for bathroom just a regional difference?
 said on
May 23, 2012
@magdalene.friesen,

No I don't think so. I think if you say 卫生间 or 洗手间,people can understand as well.

--Amber

amber@popupchinese.com
 said on
July 6, 2012
I think 厕所 implies more of a public toilet, whereas 洗手间/卫生间 is more polite, like saying 'wash room'.
 said on
July 6, 2012
@xiaozhu,

Toilets in the home can also be called 厕所. If I tell my father, I want to go to the 洗手间/卫生间 at home, he will think there is something wrong with me today.:P

--Amber

amber@popupchinese.com
 said on
June 2, 2013
Is there a difference between using the following in this lesson?

不可以

bu4ke3yi3

or

能/不能

neng2/ bu4neng2

Thanks,

Doug
 said on
June 3, 2013
@dough.gfc,

可以 is talking about permission, and 能 is talking about ability. A lot of times they are interchangeable, but this is the basic difference.

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
 said on
November 27, 2013
Hi, what about ce4suo3 ? I thought that what a common way to call the rest room, isn't it?

Thanks

Francisco
 said on
November 28, 2013
@Francisco,

厕所(ce4suo3) is a "casual" way to call restroom when you are with friends or family, but 洗手间(xi3shou3jian1) and卫生间(wei4sheng1jian1) are more commonly used. They seem more polite and acceptable ;)
 said on
September 8, 2018
My understanding was that 厕所 referred to the actual toilet, like the machine/device itself, whereas 洗手间 and 卫生间 refer to the actual room/location. Not sure where I got the implication from - does this seem accurate or not quite so?