トイレ

トイレ is the most common and neutral word for toilet/restroom in modern Japanese, from English "toilet."

ALTERNATIVE TERMS:

• お手洗(てあら)い: polite term, literally "hand-washing place"
• 化粧室(けしょうしつ): very polite, "powder room" (used in announcements)
• 便所(べんじょ): older/crude term, avoid in polite speech
• 洗面所(せんめんじょ): washroom (may include toilet area)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• トイレに行(い)く: to go to the toilet
• トイレを借(か)りる: to use (someone's) toilet
• トイレ休憩(きゅうけい): bathroom break

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese toilets (和式(わしき)トイレ) traditionally require squatting. Modern Western-style toilets (洋式(ようしき)トイレ) often have advanced features like 温水(おんすい)シャワー (bidet), 暖房(だんぼう)便座(べんざ) (heated seat), and 音姫(おとひめ) (sound-masking device).