トイレ
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Japanese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Clipping of トイレット (toiretto), borrowed from English toilet.[1][2][3]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
Usage notes[edit]
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[edit]
- 便所 (benjo), お便所 (obenjo)
- 手洗い (tearai), お手洗い (otearai): washroom
- 化粧室 (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[edit]
- おトイレ (o-toire)
- トイレが近い (toire ga chikai)
Related terms[edit]
- トイレット (toiretto)
References[edit]
- ^ Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 (in Japanese), Third edition, Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ Matsumura, Akira (1995) 大辞泉 (in Japanese), First edition, Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN
- ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK Publishing, →ISBN