Japanese

Noun

トイレ ‎(romaji toire)

1. bathroom, restroom, lavatory
2. toilet

Usage notes

While previously this term was considered rather crude when used to refer to the bathroom (being literally “toilet”), its usage is increasingly accepted, particularly in the younger generation – 「トイレはどこですか。」 (“Where is the toilet?”) is generally acceptable. In polite conversation, however, お手洗い ‎(otearai, “washroom”) is preferred.

The honorific おトイレ ‎(o-toire) is less often used, but is found, particularly in polite writing referring to toilets, rather than the room – if wishing to be polite when referring to the room, one would more often use お手洗い.

Synonyms

• 便所 (べんじょ) ‎(benjo), お便所 (べんじょ) ‎(obenjo)
• 手洗 (てあら)い ‎(tearai), お手洗 (てあら)い ‎(otearai): washroom
• 化粧室 (けしょうしつ) ‎(keshōshitsu): lavatory, make-up room, powder room – used in public spaces, like shops or on an airplane, more as the written sign than in speech

Derived terms

• おトイレ ‎(o-toire)

Related terms

• トイレット ‎(toiretto)

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9
3. ↑ 1995, 大辞泉 (Daijisen) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, ISBN 4-09-501211-0
4. ↑ 1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, ISBN 978-4-14-011112-3