How to Say ‘The restroom’ in Japanese
お手洗い
o tearai
[oh teh-ah-rye]
💬 Usage Tip: [お] adds politeness, and [お手洗い] is a common polite word for "restroom." It's often more natural in public places than the more direct [トイレ].
🇯🇵 In Japan: In restaurants, hotels, and stations, [お手洗い] sounds normal and courteous. Asking staff with this word is polite without being stiff.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Polite prefix added to make the word more courteous.
お手洗いは広いですか。
Is the restroom spacious?
手洗い
tearai
[teh-ah-rye]
restroom; toilet; washroom
Refers to the toilet or washroom area.
お手洗いは車いすで使えますか。
Can the restroom be used with a wheelchair?
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