How to say “bathroom” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
Tone tip
洗 and 手 are both third tones, so the first one rises: xí shǒu jiān. 洗手间 is the polite word used in malls and restaurants; 厕所 (cèsuǒ) is the plainer 'toilet', and 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) is what hotel and home signs say.
In a sentence
Xǐshǒujiān zài èr lóu.
The bathroom is on the second floor.
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "bathroom" in Chinese?+
"bathroom" in Mandarin Chinese is 洗手间, pronounced xǐshǒujiān. 洗 and 手 are both third tones, so the first one rises: xí shǒu jiān. 洗手间 is the polite word used in malls and restaurants; 厕所 (cèsuǒ) is the plainer 'toilet', and 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) is what hotel and home signs say.
What does 洗手间 mean literally?+
洗手间 breaks down as 洗 (xǐ) = to wash, 手 (shǒu) = hand, 间 (jiān) = room. Together it means "bathroom".
How do I get the tones right in xǐshǒujiān?+
洗 and 手 are both third tones, so the first one rises: xí shǒu jiān. 洗手间 is the polite word used in malls and restaurants; 厕所 (cèsuǒ) is the plainer 'toilet', and 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) is what hotel and home signs say.
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