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.
trevelyan
said on June 15, 2009
This lesson comes from cruel, cruel experience. If you're new to the washroom circuit in China....
jim.veseley
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.
trevelyan
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.
borneoherbs
said on June 16, 2009
can i use 大便纸..like 请问，你们这里有卖大便纸吗？
Gail天堂的声音
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？
brett
said on June 17, 2009
I have experienced this too many times! 没有手纸，没有手纸！
toneandcolor
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 + 完了 [wánle] is used to show completion of a verb.吃完了。[chīwánle] to finish eating看完了。 [kànwánle] to finish watching/reading洗完了。 [xǐ wán le] to finish washing
danroth777
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!!!
magdalene.friesen
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?
amber
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.--Amberamber@popupchinese.com
xiaozhu
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'.
amber
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--Amberamber@popupchinese.com
dough.gfc
said on June 2, 2013
Is there a difference between using the following in this lesson?不可以bu4ke3yi3or能/不能neng2/ bu4neng2Thanks,Doug
Echo
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. --Echoecho@popupchinese.com
fvazquez64
said on November 27, 2013
Hi, what about ce4suo3 ? I thought that what a common way to call the rest room, isn't it?ThanksFrancisco
Grace Qi
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 ;)
vallynn
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?
