Chinese

Noun

便所

1. (chiefly Taiwan Min Nan, Hakka) bathroom, restroom, lavatory, toilet

Synonyms

• 廁所／厕所 (cèsuǒ)
• 衛生間／卫生间 (wèishēngjiān)
• (Min Nan) 屎礐, 屎礐仔, 屎礐仔間／屎礐仔间, 礐仔, 染顏／染颜

References

• (Min Nan) “Entry #4691”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

Japanese

Etymology

(literally place for convenience)

Noun

便所 ‎(hiragana べんじょ, romaji benjo)

1. (dated) bathroom, restroom, lavatory, toilet

Usage notes

While previously (1970s) this term, or the honorific お便所 ‎(o-benjo) was the preferred polite term to refer to a bathroom, it has now been largely replaced with お手洗い ‎(o-tearai, “washroom”) – or even トイレ ‎(toire, “toilet”) – and sounds dated if used.

Synonyms

• トイレ ‎(toire), おトイレ ‎(o-toire)
• 手洗 (てあら)い ‎(tearai), お手洗 (てあら)い ‎(otearai, “washroom”)
• 化粧室 ‎(keshōshitsu, “lavatory”, literally “make-up room, powder room”) – used in public spaces, like shops or airplane, more as the written sign than in speech.

Derived terms

• お便所 (べんじょ) ‎(o-benjo)

Korean

Noun

便所 • ‎(byeonso) ‎(hangeul 변소)

1. Hanja form^? of 변소, “bathroom, restroom, lavatory, toilet”.