化粧室
keshōshitsu[ke̞ɕo̞ːɕi̥t͡sɨ]
The English phrase powder room is translated into Japanese as 化粧室 (keshōshitsu).
化粧室 is used to refer to a ladies room.
Meaning: ladies room (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
化粧室 is a polite and formal way to refer to a restroom, often used in department stores, hotels and restaurants.
Did you know?
- Some modern Japanese hotels use the English phrase 'Powder Room' in katakana as パウダールーム, but this usually refers specifically to a vanity area separate from the toilet.
- The characters in 化粧室 literally mean 'makeup room', which reflects the historical Japanese custom of treating the restroom as a place for grooming and refining one's appearance.
- While 化粧室 is polite, you will often see the more direct and slightly less formal お手洗い (otearai), which literally means 'hand washing'.
Examples in context
- 化粧室はどこですか？Keshōshitsu wa doko desu ka?Where is the powder room?
- 化粧室へ行ってきます。Keshōshitsu e itte kimasu.I am going to the powder room.
- あの化粧室はとても綺麗ですね。Ano keshōshitsu wa totemo kirei desu ne.That powder room is very clean, isn't it?
Example conversation
A man and a woman are at a department store.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さん、化粧室はどこですか？Hiroto-san, keshōshitsu wa doko desu ka?Hiroto, where is the powder room?
- 大翔 Hirotoあそこですよ、美咲さん。Asoko desu yo, Misaki-san.It's over there, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 大翔 Hirotoゆっくりどうぞ。Yukkuri dōzo.Take your time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 化粧室, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
