Mandarin phrase guide

How to say where is the bathroom in Chinese

洗手间在哪里？ is a practical, polite-neutral way to ask where the restroom is. 厕所 is understood but can sound more direct.

Chinese

洗手间在哪里？

洗手間在哪裡？

Pinyin

xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ

Sounds like

shee show jyen dz-eye nah lee

Read it piece by piece

洗

xǐ

shee

English IPA /ʃiː/

手

shǒu

show

English IPA /ʃoʊ/

间

jiān

jyen

English IPA /dʒjɛn/

在

zài

dz-eye

English IPA /dzaɪ/

哪

nǎ

nah

English IPA /nɑː/

里

lǐ

lee

English IPA /liː/

Pronunciation notes

x sounds close to "sh", with the tongue forward.

Search another phrase Open phrase page

When to use 洗手间在哪里？

Neutral

Use 洗手间 in restaurants, hotels, offices, and other public places.
Add 请问 at the beginning when asking a stranger or staff member.

Other ways to say it

请问，卫生间在哪里？

請問，衛生間在哪裡？

qǐng wèn, wèi shēng jiān zài nǎ lǐ

Excuse me, where is the restroom?

Polite

厕所在哪儿？

廁所在哪兒？

cè suǒ zài nǎr

Where is the toilet?

Direct

Example conversations

Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

请问，洗手间在哪里？

請問，洗手間在哪裡？

qǐng wèn, xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ

The bathroom is on the second floor.

洗手间在二楼。

洗手間在二樓。

xǐ shǒu jiān zài èr lóu

Common mistakes

Do not translate 'bathroom' as 浴室 when you are asking for a public restroom; 浴室 means a room for bathing.

Related Chinese phrases

How to say excuse me 不好意思 · bù hǎo yì si How to say how much is this 这个多少钱？ · zhè ge duō shǎo qián How to say can you help me 你能帮我吗？ · nǐ néng bāng wǒ ma