卫生间

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

含义

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.

例句

1. 请问卫生间在哪里？
2. 这个房间有独立的卫生间。
3. 卫生间的灯坏了，需要修一下。

用法指南

语境: everyday, travel, public places

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 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.)

错误说法

• 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.)

起源与历史

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

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal