洗手间

• 拼音: xǐ shǒu jiān
• 汉字拆解: 洗 = 氵(water) + 先 (phonetic); 手 = pictograph of a hand; 间 = 门 (door) + 日 (sun) — a space between

含义

Restroom; washroom; bathroom. A polite term for a room with toilet facilities.

A polite and widely used word for bathroom or restroom. Literally means 'hand-washing room.' More refined than 厕所 (toilet), and commonly used in public places, restaurants, and offices. Interchangeable with 卫生间 in many contexts.

例句

1. 请问洗手间在哪儿？
2. 洗手间在二楼。
3. 我想去一下洗手间。

用法指南

语境: public, everyday

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 请问洗手间在哪里？(Excuse me, where is the restroom?)
• 洗手间在那边。(The restroom is over there.)

错误说法

• 你的厕所在哪儿？(Too blunt in polite settings — use 洗手间 instead of 厕所 when speaking formally)

起源与历史

A compound of 洗手 (wash hands) and 间 (room), literally meaning 'the room for washing hands' — a euphemistic name for the toilet.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal