トイレ

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. トイレはどこですか?▶ —
   Where is the toilet?
2. お手洗いを借りてもいいですか?▶ —
   May I use the bathroom?

Collocations

Mnemonic

トイレ toire — loanword from "toilet". Register hierarchy: 便所 (benjo, blunt and old) → トイレ (toire, neutral default) → お手洗い (otearai, "hand-washing", polite) → 化粧室 (keshoushitsu, "makeup room", hotels/luxury) → パウダールーム. Polite circumlocution avoids direct excretion vocabulary. ウォシュレット (washlet) is TOTO's 1980 invention of the spray-toilet — globally exported, reshaping Korea's bidet market too. One word compresses hygiene history, formality system, and industrial design.

Quick check

1. Most polite way to excuse oneself to the bathroom in a meeting?

   • お手洗いをお借りしてもよろしいですか (most polite)
   • トイレ行ってくる (casual)
   • 便所どこ? (blunt/rude)
   • 化粧室? (luxe context)