用 足(ようた)し

ようたし

noun

errand; going to the bathroom (euphemism)

daily-life

1. errand; doing business; running an errand

going out to take care of some task or business

用足(ようた)しに出(で)かける。

To go out on an errand.

銀行(ぎんこう)で用足(ようた)しをする。

To take care of business at the bank.

ちょっと用足(ようた)しに行(い)ってきます。

I'll be back in a moment; I need to take care of something.

2. going to the bathroom; using the toilet

a euphemistic expression for using the restroom

用足(ようた)しに行(い)きたい。

I need to use the bathroom.

子(こ)どもが用足(ようた)しをしたがっている。

The child needs to go to the bathroom.

外(そと)で用足(ようた)しができない。

I can't use the toilet outside (of home).

Common collocations

用足(ようた)しに行(い)く/出(で)かける (to go on an errand; to go to the toilet)
用足(ようた)しをする (to run an errand; to relieve oneself)
用(よう)を足(た)す (the verb phrase: to do one's business, either sense)

Usage

Both senses are a little old-fashioned. Sense 2 is an indirect way of saying one needs the toilet; context decides which sense is meant, so ちょっと用足(ようた)しに can be either.

Similar words

トイレに行(い)く: the everyday, direct way to say it
お手洗(てあら)いに行(い)く: the polite way
用事(ようじ): an errand or piece of business; the normal word for sense 1 (用事(ようじ)がある, 用事(ようじ)を済(す)ませる)

Related Words

Related: 用事(ようじ) (errand, business)

Related: 買(か)い物(もの) (shopping)

Related: お手洗(てあら)い (restroom)

general

Added 2026.1.25 18:58 · Revised 2026.9.24 12:23

08000/08260_youtashi