トイレ

といれ
noun
toilet, bathroom
1. toilet, restroom, bathroom
A room containing a toilet. The most common word for toilet/restroom in modern Japanese.
トイレはどこですか。
Where is the toilet?
ちょっとトイレに行(い)ってきます。
I'll go to the restroom for a moment.
トイレを使(つか)ってもいいですか。
May I use the restroom?
すみません、トイレは二階(にかい)にありますか、一階(いっかい)にありますか。
Excuse me, is the restroom on the second floor or the first floor?
子供(こども)がトイレに行(い)きたいと言(い)っているので、すぐに行(い)かせてください。
My child says they want to go to the restroom, so please let them go right away.

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).

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:54 · Revised 2026.2.19 10:24
00500/00818_toire