How to say “where is the toilet” 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
洗手 (xǐshǒu) is two third tones, so the first becomes a rising tone by sandhi (xíshǒu). 哪里 likewise: ná-lǐ. Start the whole question with 请问 to be polite.
In a sentence
Qǐngwèn, xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?
Excuse me, where is the toilet?
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "where is the toilet" in Chinese?+
"where is the toilet" in Mandarin Chinese is 洗手间在哪里, pronounced xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ. 洗手 (xǐshǒu) is two third tones, so the first becomes a rising tone by sandhi (xíshǒu). 哪里 likewise: ná-lǐ. Start the whole question with 请问 to be polite.
What does 洗手间在哪里 mean literally?+
洗手间在哪里 breaks down as 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān) = toilet (lit. wash-hand-room), 在 (zài) = to be at / located, 哪里 (nǎlǐ) = where. Together it means "where is the toilet".
How do I get the tones right in xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?+
洗手 (xǐshǒu) is two third tones, so the first becomes a rising tone by sandhi (xíshǒu). 哪里 likewise: ná-lǐ. Start the whole question with 请问 to be polite.
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See all the phrases on the how to say things in Chinese index, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.