トイレに行きたい
toire ni ikitai
The English phrase "i need to go to the toilet" is expressed in Japanese as トイレに行きたい (toire ni ikitai).
This phrase is used to express the need or desire to use a restroom. In many social settings, such as a classroom or a formal meeting, it is more natural to ask for permission by saying トイレに行ってもいいですか？ (May I go to the toilet?) rather than simply stating your desire.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of toire (toilet), the particle ni (to) and ikitai (want to go).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite and indirect way to refer to the restroom, you can use お手洗い (Otearai) instead of トイレ. For example, お手洗いに行きたいです means "I would like to go to the restroom".
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite and suitable for use with strangers or in public settings, you can add です to the end of ikitai to form トイレに行きたいです.
How do you pronounce it?
toire ni ikitai
Did you know?
- To be extremely discreet, some people use the phrase 席を外します meaning 'I will leave my seat' instead of mentioning the toilet at all.
- Public restrooms in Japan often feature a 'washlet' with a bidet function, which is so ubiquitous that many Japanese people find Western toilets lacking.
- In many Japanese buildings, you might see signs for 化粧室 (keshou-shitsu), which literally means 'makeup room'.
Examples in context
- Sumimasen, toire ni ikitai desu. (すみません、トイレに行きたいです。)Excuse me, I need to go to the toilet.
- Otearai o tsukatte mo yoroshii desu ka? (お手洗いを使ってもよろしいですか？)May I use the restroom?
- トイレに行きたいです。Toire ni ikitai desu.I want to go to the toilet.
Example conversation
Daito and Himari are walking in a park.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、トイレに行きたいんだけど。Himari, toire ni ikitai ndakedo.Himari, I need to go to the toilet.
- 陽葵 Himariあそこにトイレがあるよ。Asoko ni toire ga aru yo.There is a toilet over there.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当？助かるよ。Hontō? Tasukaru yo.Really? That helps.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、急いで行ってきて。Jaa, isoide itte kite.Well, go quickly then.
