화장실
hwajangsil[ɸwa̠d͡ʑa̠ŋɕʰiɭ]
The Korean word for restroom is 화장실 (hwajangsil).
화장실 refers to a public room containing a toilet. While it is the most common and proper way to say restroom, it is important to distinguish between the room and the object inside it.
Meaning: public room containing a toilet (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 화장실 literally means 'makeup room', where 화장 means makeup or cosmetics and 실 means room.
Which one should you use?
Use 화장실 when referring to the room itself. If you are specifically referring to the porcelain toilet fixture, use 변기 instead.
How do you pronounce it?
hwajangsil
Did you know?
- In Buddhist temples, you will often find the restroom called a 해우소, which translates to 'a place to relieve worries'.
- In historic Korean villages, you may encounter 뒷간, a word specifically used for traditional outdoor toilets located behind the house.
- In older buildings, you might see the single characters 女 and 男 instead of modern icons to distinguish between women's and men's restrooms.
Examples in context
- 화장실에 가도 괜찮을까요?May I go to the restroom?This sentence is useful for asking permission to go to the 화장실.Tatoeba #13161941 by SN_H, translation #517399 by CK
- 실례합니다, 화장실이 어디에요?Excuse me, where is the restroom?This sentence is useful for asking where the 화장실 is located.Tatoeba #13557034 by LeviHighway, translation #13591507 by LeviHighway
- 신호등 옆에 화장실이 있어요.There is a restroom next to the traffic light.
- 안녕하세요, 화장실은 어디예요?Hello, where is the restroom?
- 오른쪽으로 가면 있어요.If you go to the right, it's there.
- 근처에 깨끗한 화장실이 있어요.geun-cheo-e kkae-kkeut-han hwa-jang-sil-i iss-eo-yo.There is a clean restroom nearby.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Seoyeon are walking in a park.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연 씨, 화장실 어디인지 알아요?Seo-yeon ssi, hwa-jang-sil eo-di-in-ji a-ra-yo?Seoyeon, do you know where the restroom is?
- 서연 Seo-yeon저기 나무 옆에 화장실이 있어요.Jeo-gi na-mu yeop-e hwa-jang-sil-i iss-eo-yo.There is a restroom over there next to the trees.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo고마워요. 빨리 다녀올게요.Go-ma-wo-yo. ppal-li da-nyeo-ol-ge-yo.Thank you. I will be back quickly.
- 서연 Seo-yeon천천히 다녀오세요.Cheon-cheon-hi da-nyeo-o-se-yo.Take your time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “restroom” translations and entries 화장실, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
