お手洗いを借りてもいいですか
otoarai o karitemo ii desu ka
In Japanese, 'may I use the restroom?' is expressed as お手洗いを借りてもいいですか (otoarai o karitemo ii desu ka).
This phrase is a polite request for permission to use a toilet. In Japanese, it is more natural to say 'may I borrow the restroom' than 'may I use the restroom'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word お手洗い (otoarai) literally means 'washing of hands'.
Which one should you use?
The phrase Toire o tsukatte mo ii desu ka? is a formal way to say 'May I use the restroom?', whereas Toire tsukatte ii? is an informal way to ask 'May I use the restroom?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The prefix o- in お手洗い makes the word more polite and soft than the more blunt toire. For business or very polite settings, you can use the highly formal version お手洗いをお借りしてもよろしいでしょうか.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form お手洗いをお借りしてもよろしいでしょうか is a highly formal version used in business or very polite settings.
How do you pronounce it?
otoarai o karitemo ii desu ka
Did you know?
- Public restrooms in Japan often feature 'Otohime' melody seats that play sounds of flushing or singing to mask noise, a cultural practice known as 'sound masking'.
- When asking for the restroom in a department store, you might see signs for 化粧室 (keshōshitsu), which literally means 'makeup room'.
- In traditional Japanese architecture, the 'toilet' was historically located in a separate building from the main house to keep impurities away from the living quarters.
Examples in context
- すみません、トイレを使ってもいいですか？Excuse me, may I use the restroom?
- トイレ使っていい？Can I use the restroom?
- お手洗いを借りてもいいですか。Otearai o karitemo ii desu ka.May I use the restroom?
- 少しの間、お手洗いを借りてもいいですか。Sukoshi no aida, otearai o karitemo ii desu ka.May I use the restroom for a moment?
Example conversation
A woman asks a man for permission to use his restroom at his house.
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、お手洗いを借りてもいいですか。Sumimasen, otearai o karitemo ii desu ka.Excuse me, may I use the restroom?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、どうぞ。Hai, douzo.Yes, please go ahead.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
- 陽太 Yotaいえいえ。Iie iie.No problem.
