noun HSK 4
Traditional 馬桶
toilet · toilet bowl · commode
Meaning
马桶 refers to a flush toilet or toilet bowl, the porcelain fixture used for urination and defecation in modern bathrooms. It is the standard term for a Western-style sitting toilet in mainland China.
Usage
This is the everyday term for toilet in mainland China. In Taiwan, people more commonly say 馬桶 or 馬子. When referring to the entire bathroom/restroom, Chinese speakers use 厕所 (cèsuǒ) or 卫生间 (wèishēngjiān), but 马桶 specifically means the toilet fixture itself.
Examples
- 01用完马桶后请冲水。.Please flush the toilet after using it.
- 02我们家的马桶坏了，需要找人修理。, .Our toilet is broken and we need to find someone to repair it.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个马桶
Common collocations
- 冲马桶to flush the toilet
- 马桶盖toilet seat lid
- 坐便马桶sitting toilet
- 智能马桶smart toilet
Origin
Literally 'horse bucket,' the term possibly comes from the barrel-like shape of early toilets or chamber pots. The 'horse' character may be a phonetic borrowing or refer to portable commodes used while traveling on horseback.