お手洗(てあら)い

お手洗(てあら)い is a polite, euphemistic term for restroom or toilet, suitable for formal situations.

Etymology

• お: honorific prefix
• 手(て): hand
• 洗(あら)い: washing (from 洗う)

Literal meaning: 'place to wash hands' - a polite way to refer to the toilet.

POLITENESS LEVELS (toilet words):

• お手洗(てあら)い: restroom (polite, safe for any situation)
• トイレ: toilet (neutral, common in everyday speech)
• 化粧室(けしょうしつ): powder room (formal, often used in announcements)
• 洗面所(せんめんじょ): washroom (neutral, focuses on the sink area)
• 便所(べんじょ): toilet (direct, can sound crude)
• 厠(かわや): privy (old-fashioned, literary)

Common expressions

• お手洗(てあら)いはどこですか: Where is the restroom?
• お手洗(てあら)いに行(い)ってきます: I'm going to the restroom.
• お手洗(てあら)いを借(か)りてもいいですか: May I use the restroom?