Meaning
卫生间 is the standard, polite term for a bathroom or restroom in Mandarin Chinese. It literally means 'hygiene room' and is the most common formal word used in public places, hotels, restaurants, and everyday conversation. It refers to a room containing a toilet and usually a sink, and sometimes a shower or bathtub in residential settings.
Usage
This is the most neutral and widely acceptable term for bathroom in both formal and informal contexts. In public spaces, you'll see signs with 卫生间. In casual conversation, people might also say 厕所 (cè suǒ), though that can sound slightly less refined. 洗手间 (xǐ shǒu jiān, 'hand-washing room') is another polite alternative commonly used in restaurants and public venues.
Examples
- 01请问卫生间在哪里??Excuse me, where is the restroom?
- 02这个酒店的每个房间都有独立的卫生间。.Every room in this hotel has its own private bathroom.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个卫生间
- 间三间卫生间
Common collocations
- 上卫生间to go to the bathroom
- 公共卫生间public restroom
- 男卫生间men's restroom
- 女卫生间women's restroom
Origin
The term combines 卫生 (wèi shēng, 'hygiene' or 'sanitation') with 间 (jiān, 'room'), creating a euphemistic and polite way to refer to the toilet. This terminology became standard in modern Chinese as part of public health modernization efforts.