卫生间

• Pinyin: wèi shēng jiān
• Hanzi breakdown: 卫 = 'to guard'; 生 = 'life'; 间 = 门 (door) + 日 (sun) — sunlight through a door, meaning 'room' or 'space'

Meaning

Bathroom; restroom; washroom. A polite term for the room containing a toilet.

The most common and polite term for a bathroom or toilet room in modern Chinese. Preferred over 厕所 (toilet) in polite or formal situations. Found on signs at restaurants, hotels, and public places.

Examples

1. 请问卫生间在哪里？ Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
2. 这个房间有独立的卫生间。 This room has its own private bathroom.
3. 卫生间的灯坏了，需要修一下。 The bathroom light is broken and needs to be fixed.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, travel, public places

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 卫生间在走廊尽头。(The bathroom is at the end of the hallway.)
• 我去一下卫生间。(I'll go to the bathroom.)

Don't Say

• 你家的卫生间厕真大。(Don't mix 卫生间 and 厕所. They are separate words: 卫生间 is polite, 厕所 is more direct. Pick one.)

Origin & History

卫生 means 'hygiene' and 间 means 'room'. Together they mean 'hygiene room' — a euphemistic term for the bathroom.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal