厕所间 (cè suǒ jiān) — toilet, restroom, lavatory

Definition

A formal or written way to say 'restroom / toilet,' common on signs and in public notices. In everyday speech, 厕所 alone is more natural.

noun
toiletrestroomlavatory
Measure word · 间

Examples

  • 厕所间？
    Qǐng gào sù wǒ cè suǒ jiān zài nǎ lǐ?
    Please tell me where the restroom is.
  • 厕所间。
    Zhè ge cè suǒ jiān hěn gān jìng.
    This restroom is very clean.
  • 厕所间？
    Lóu shàng yǒu cè suǒ jiān ma?
    Is there a restroom upstairs?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

厕所
厕cètoilet所suǒplace
偏正Modifier + head
间jiānroom

厕所 names a toilet and 间 names a room, giving a room for using the toilet.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 廁; 厕 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
則
則zé廁cè
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 廁 is made from 广 and 則; 則 gives the sound, and 广 relates to the meaning. The simplified 厕 is a later shorthand.

Open 厕 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
斤斤jīnaxe
Sound part声符shēngfú
戶
戶hù所suǒ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

所 pairs 斤, an axe, with 戶, which gives the sound hù; the old meaning was the sound of logging.

Open 所 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 间 →

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