卫生间

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卫生间 [2025/08/13 08:52] – created xiaoer卫生间 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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-====== wèishēngjiān: 卫生间 - Bathroom, Restroom, Toilet ====== +
-===== Quick Summary ===== +
-  * **Keywords:** wèishēngjiān, weishengjian, 卫生间, Chinese for bathroom, restroom in Chinese, toilet in Chinese, where is the bathroom in Chinese, how to say restroom in Chinese, 公共卫生间, xǐshǒujiān, cèsuǒ +
-  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)**, the most common and essential word for "bathroom" or "restroom" in modern Mandarin Chinese. This page breaks down the characters, explains the cultural context, and provides practical examples for how to ask for and talk about the bathroom in China. Whether you're in a home, a hotel, or a shopping mall, knowing `wèishēngjiān` is a must for any learner or traveler. +
-===== Core Meaning ===== +
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** wèishēngjiān +
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun +
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 2 +
-  * **Concise Definition:** The standard term for a bathroom, restroom, or toilet in both public and private settings. +
-  * **In a Nutshell:** `卫生间` is your go-to, all-purpose word for a bathroom in China. Literally meaning "hygiene room," it's a neutral and polite term that you can use in any situation without worrying about being too direct or informal. If you only learn one word for "restroom," this is the one. +
-===== Character Breakdown ===== +
-  * **卫 (wèi):** Originally picturing a guard patrolling a boundary, this character's core meaning is "to protect" or "to guard." +
-  * **生 (shēng):** A pictogram of a small plant sprouting from the earth. It means "life," "to be born," or "to grow." +
-  * **间 (jiān):** A combination of "door" (门) and "sun" (日), depicting sunlight streaming through a doorway. It means "room," "space," or "between." +
-When combined, **卫生 (wèishēng)** means "to protect life," which is the modern Chinese word for "hygiene" or "sanitation." Adding **间 (jiān)**, meaning "room," creates the very logical term **卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)**: a "hygiene room." This name reflects a modern emphasis on cleanliness and public health. +
-===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== +
-The term `卫生间` is a relatively modern invention that gained popularity in the 20th century as China focused on modernization and public sanitation. It's a more clinical and euphemistic term than the older, more direct word `厕所 (cèsuǒ)`, which literally means "toilet place." +
-This shift is similar to the preference in American English for "restroom" or "bathroom" over the more direct term "toilet." While `厕所 (cèsuǒ)` is still widely used, especially in casual speech or for more basic facilities, `卫生间` is what you will see on signs in airports, high-end hotels, shopping malls, and in modern apartments. Using `卫生间` often conveys a sense of modernity and cleanliness. It's the standard, polite, and safe choice for a foreigner. +
-Unlike the English "bathroom," `卫生间` does not necessarily imply the presence of a bathtub or shower. Its primary focus is on the toilet and sink, making it a closer equivalent to the American "restroom." +
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== +
-`卫生间` is the most frequently used and understood term for a restroom across China. +
-  * **Asking for Directions:** It is the standard term to use when asking for the location of a toilet. The phrase `请问，卫生间在哪儿？ (Qǐngwèn, wèishēngjiān zài nǎr?)` is one of the most useful sentences a traveler can learn. +
-  * **On Signage:** You will see the characters `卫生间` on doors in almost all modern public and commercial buildings. Sometimes it will be accompanied by `男` (nán - male) or `女` (nǚ - female). +
-  * **In Real Estate and Home Life:** When people talk about the layout of their apartment, they will refer to the bathroom as the `卫生间`. +
-It carries a neutral connotation and is appropriate in both formal and informal settings. +
-===== Example Sentences ===== +
-  * **Example 1:** +
-    * 请问，**卫生间**在哪儿？ +
-    * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, **wèishēngjiān** zài nǎr? +
-    * English: Excuse me, where is the restroom? +
-    * Analysis: This is the most essential phrase for finding a bathroom. `请问 (qǐngwèn)` makes it polite, and `在哪儿 (zài nǎr)` is the standard way to ask "where is...?" +
-  * **Example 2:** +
-    * 我去一下**卫生间**，马上回来。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒ qù yīxià **wèishēngjiān**, mǎshàng huílái. +
-    * English: I'm just going to the bathroom, I'll be right back. +
-    * Analysis: `去一下 (qù yīxià)` softens the action, making it sound more casual and brief. This is a very common and natural way to excuse yourself. +
-  * **Example 3:** +
-    * 这个酒店的房间里有独立的**卫生间**。 +
-    * Pinyin: Zhège jiǔdiàn de fángjiān lǐ yǒu dúlì de **wèishēngjiān**. +
-    * English: This hotel's rooms have private bathrooms. +
-    * Analysis: `独立 (dúlì)` means "independent" or "separate." This sentence is useful for describing amenities. +
-  * **Example 4:** +
-    * **卫生间**里有人吗？ +
-    * Pinyin: **Wèishēngjiān** lǐ yǒu rén ma? +
-    * English: Is there someone in the bathroom? / Is the bathroom occupied? +
-    * Analysis: A simple and direct way to check if a single-stall restroom is free. `有人 (yǒu rén)` literally means "has people." +
-  * **Example 5:** +
-    * 我们家的**卫生间**很小。 +
-    * Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā de **wèishēngjiān** hěn xiǎo. +
-    * English: Our home's bathroom is very small. +
-    * Analysis: Shows the use of `卫生间` to refer to the bathroom within one's own house. +
-  * **Example 6:** +
-    * 公共**卫生间**的卫生很重要。 +
-    * Pinyin: Gōnggòng **wèishēngjiān** de wèishēng hěn zhòngyào. +
-    * English: The hygiene of public restrooms is very important. +
-    * Analysis: This sentence cleverly uses both `卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)` and the word it's derived from, `卫生 (wèishēng - hygiene)`. It highlights the term's core meaning. +
-  * **Example 7:** +
-    * 你需要打扫一下**卫生间**了，有点儿脏。 +
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào dǎsǎo yīxià **wèishēngjiān** le, yǒudiǎnr zāng. +
-    * English: You need to clean the bathroom, it's a little dirty. +
-    * Analysis: `打扫 (dǎsǎo)` means "to clean." `有点儿脏 (yǒudiǎnr zāng)` is a common way to say something is "a bit dirty." +
-  * **Example 8:** +
-    * 爸爸正在修**卫生间**的马桶。 +
-    * Pinyin: Bàba zhèngzài xiū **wèishēngjiān** de mǎtǒng. +
-    * English: Dad is fixing the toilet in the bathroom. +
-    * Analysis: This clarifies that `卫生间` is the room, while `马桶 (mǎtǒng)` is the physical toilet fixture itself. +
-  * **Example 9:** +
-    * 前面那个**卫生间**正在维修，请用楼上的。 +
-    * Pinyin: Qiánmiàn nàge **wèishēngjiān** zhèngzài wéixiū, qǐng yòng lóushàng de. +
-    * English: The restroom ahead is under maintenance, please use the one upstairs. +
-    * Analysis: A practical sentence you might hear or see on a sign in a public place. `维修 (wéixiū)` means "maintenance" or "repair." +
-  * **Example 10:** +
-    * 对不起，我们的**卫生间**只对顾客开放。 +
-    * Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒmen de **wèishēngjiān** zhǐ duì gùkè kāifàng. +
-    * English: Sorry, our restroom is for customers only. +
-    * Analysis: `对...开放 (duì...kāifàng)` means "to be open to..." This is a common policy in cafes or restaurants. +
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== +
-  * **`卫生间` vs. `厕所 (cèsuǒ)`:** This is the most common point of confusion. +
-    * **`卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)`:** More modern, polite, and neutral. Implies a clean, modern facility. It's the standard for signs in new buildings, hotels, and homes. +
-    * **`厕所 (cèsuǒ)`:** More traditional and direct. Still very common in spoken Chinese and for older or more basic public facilities. It can sometimes sound a bit less refined. As a learner, you can't go wrong with `卫生间`. +
-  * **`卫生间` vs. `洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān)`:** +
-    * **`洗手间 (xǐshǒujiān)`:** Literally "wash-hand room." It's another polite, common alternative to `卫生间`, often used interchangeably. Some feel it's even more euphemistic and you'll often see it on signs in restaurants and KTVs. +
-  * **Don't Confuse the Room with the Fixture:** A common mistake is to misuse the word for the toilet bowl, `马桶 (mǎtǒng)`. +
-    * **Incorrect:** `我去马桶。(Wǒ qù mǎtǒng.)` - This literally means "I'm going to the toilet bowl," which sounds very awkward and overly literal. +
-    * **Correct:** `我去卫生间。(Wǒ qù wèishēngjiān.)` - "I'm going to the bathroom." +
-===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== +
-  * [[厕所]] (cèsuǒ) - A very common synonym for bathroom, but can be perceived as slightly more direct or less formal than `卫生间`. +
-  * [[洗手间]] (xǐshǒujiān) - "Wash-hand room." A polite and common alternative, often used in public venues like restaurants. +
-  * [[浴室]] (yùshì) - A room specifically for bathing or showering; a "bathroom" in the literal sense of having a bath. Modern apartments often combine the `卫生间` and `浴室`. +
-  * [[马桶]] (mǎtǒng) - The physical toilet bowl/fixture. +
-  * [[卫生]] (wèishēng) - The root word, meaning "hygiene" or "sanitation." +
-  * [[公共厕所]] (gōnggòng cèsuǒ) - The specific term for a "public toilet." Note that it often uses `厕所` by default. +
-  * [[化妆间]] (huàzhuāngjiān) - "Makeup room" or "powder room." A euphemism often used for women's restrooms in high-end establishments. +
-  * [[男厕]] (náncè) / [[女厕]] (nǚcè) - Abbreviated signs for "Men's Room" and "Women's Room."+