Meaning of 卫生间
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- bathroom
- toilet
- WC
Measure word: 間|间
How to use 卫生间
卫生间 is the most common polite word for a bathroom or toilet in homes, hotels, and public places in mainland China. It is often used when asking for directions. 请问，卫生间在哪儿？(Qǐngwèn, wèishēngjiān zài nǎr?) Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Break it into 卫生 (wèishēng, hygiene) plus 间 (jiān, room), the same 间 you see in 房间 (fángjiān). A hygiene room is the bathroom.
Common mistake: Learners often write 问 (wèn, to ask) instead of 间 (jiān), because both sit inside the 门 frame. 间 has 日 inside, while 问 has 口. Also keep the fourth tone on 卫 (wèi). Do not read it as wéi.
卫生间 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
卫 wèi · to guard · 3 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
生 shēng · to grow · 5 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
间 jiān · between · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 卫生间.
| 先生 | xiānsheng | teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) |
| 时间 | shíjiān | (concept of) time; (duration of) time |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor; medical practitioner |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room |
| 生气 | shēngqì | to get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student; schoolchild |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday |
| 中间 | zhōngjiān | the middle; the inside; in the middle; within; between; among |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to fall ill |
| 女生 | nǚshēng | schoolgirl; female student |
| 男生 | nánshēng | schoolboy; male student |
| 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | toilet; lavatory |
Questions about 卫生间
What does 卫生间 mean?
卫生间 (wèishēngjiān) means "bathroom; toilet" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 卫生间?
卫生间 is made of 3 characters: 卫 (3 strokes), 生 (5 strokes), 间 (7 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 卫生间 an HSK word?
Yes. 卫生间 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 卫生间 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 卫生间 is written 衛生間.
What is the difference between 卫生间 and 厕所?
Both mean toilet. 厕所 (cèsuǒ) is more direct and common in casual speech. 卫生间 sounds more polite and is the usual word on signs and in homes.
Can 卫生间 mean a room with a shower?
Yes. In a home or hotel, 卫生间 usually means the whole bathroom, including the toilet, sink, and shower. It is not only the toilet itself.