お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？
otearai o okari shitemo ii desu ka?
In Japanese, the phrase 'may I use the bathroom?' is expressed as お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？ (otearai o okari shitemo ii desu ka?)
This phrase is a polite request used to ask for permission to use a restroom. While お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？ is a standard polite way to ask, you can also use variants such as トイレを使ってもいいですか？ or お手洗いを使ってもいいですか？ Using お手洗い is considered more sophisticated and less blunt than using the word トイレ in public settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The term お手洗い (otearai) literally means 'hand washing' and serves as a polite euphemism for the restroom.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to phrase this depending on the word used for 'bathroom'. You may also see トイレ行ってもいい？ meaning 'Is it okay if I go to the bathroom?' or the informal トイレ行っていい？ for 'May I use the bathroom?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The level of politeness varies significantly. For a more formal setting, such as high-end restaurants or business environments, you can use お手洗いをお借りしてもよろしいでしょうか？ to make the request much more formal. In casual situations, such as with friends, the informal トイレ行っていい？ is used.
How do you pronounce it?
otearai o okari shitemo ii desu ka?
Did you know?
- In very formal settings, Japanese people may avoid words for 'bathroom' entirely and use the phrase 席を外します meaning 'I will leave my seat'.
- In the phrase お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？, the verb 借りる (kariru) means 'to borrow'. Instead of asking to 'use' a bathroom, Japanese speakers often politely ask to 'borrow' it.
- Japanese culture often utilizes euphemisms to maintain 'wa', or social harmony. Using 'hand washing' instead of 'toilet' is a way to avoid the perceived 'impurity' of bodily functions in polite conversation.
Examples in context
- あちらのお手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？Achira no otearai o okari shite mo ii desu ka?May I use that bathroom over there?
Example conversation
Yota is visiting Misaki's house for the first time.
- 陽太 Yotaすみません、お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか？Sumimasen, otearai o okari shite mo ii desu ka?Excuse me, may I use the bathroom?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、もちろんです。Hai, mochiron desu.Yes, of course.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 美咲 Misakiどうぞ、使ってください。Douzo, tsukatte kudasai.Please, go ahead and use it.
