卫生间 wèishēngjiān restroom
restroom; bathroom; water closet (WC)
How to remember 卫生间: 卫 to guard + 生 life + 间 room = restroom.
Characters
How it is used
- The polite, general word for a toilet room - 卫生间在哪儿? (wèishēngjiān zài nǎr?) where's the restroom?
- Register ladder: 洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān) is the most genteel/public sign, 卫生间 neutral (home or public), 厕所 (cèsuǒ) blunt and plain.
- Don't read 生 as a separate word here - 卫生 (hygiene) is one unit, then 间 (room).
Example sentences
- 我在打扫卫生间。 Wǒ zài dǎsǎo wèishēnɡjiān.I am cleaning the bathroom.
- 我当时在卫生间。 Wǒ dāngshí zài wèishēngjiān.I was in the bathroom.