화장실 가고 싶어요
hwajangsil gago sipeoyo
The English phrase "I want to go to the toilet" is translated into Korean as 화장실 가고 싶어요 (hwajangsil gago sipeoyo).
In many public situations, instead of stating your intention to go, it is more natural to ask where the restroom is located by saying 화장실 어디예요?
Meaning: I want to go to the toilet (phrase)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 화장실 가고 싶어요 uses the polite style (해요체), which is appropriate when speaking to strangers, teachers or colleagues. For a more formal tone, you can use 화장실에 가고 싶습니다. If you are speaking to close friends or someone younger than you, you can use the informal/casual style (반말) by using 화장실에 가고 싶어, which is formed by removing the 요 from the end of the polite phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 에 can be added to 화장실 to create 화장실에 가고 싶어요 or 화장실에 가고 싶습니다. This particle indicates the destination and makes the sentence more grammatically complete, although it is often omitted in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
hwajangsil gago sipeoyo
Did you know?
- The word for 'toilet', 화장실, literally translates to 'cosmetic room'.
- Children or adults using very casual speech might use the phrase 쉬하고 싶어, which relies on the onomatopoeia 쉬 to mimic the sound of trickling water.
- While 화장실 is the standard term, high-end hotels and international airports in Korea sometimes use the transliterated English word 레스트룸.
Examples in context
- 화장실 가고 싶어요.hwajangsil gago sipeoyo.I want to go to the toilet.
- 지금 화장실 가고 싶어요.jigeum hwajangsil gago sipeoyo.I want to go to the toilet right now.
- 갑자기 화장실 가고 싶어요.gapjagi hwajangsil gago sipeoyo.Suddenly, I want to go to the toilet.
Example conversation
Subin tells Hyunwoo that she needs to find a restroom during a walk.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 저 화장실 가고 싶어요.Hyunwoo-ssi, jeo hwajangsil gago sipeoyo.Hyunwoo, I want to go to the toilet.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo저기 앞에 화장실이 있어요.jeogi ape hwajangsil-i isseoyo.There is a toilet up there.
- 수빈 Su-bin빨리 가야겠어요.ppalli gaya-gesseoyo.I should go quickly.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 얼른 가세요.ne, eolleun gaseyo.Yes, go quickly.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 화장실, CC BY-SA 4.0.
