Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| xí bệt | |
| cầu tiêu | [kəw˨˩ tiəw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kəw˦˩ tiw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
The term toilet refers to a fixture used for urination and defecation. While xí bệt and cầu tiêu are used to name the fixture itself, the term nhà vệ sinh is the most common way to ask for a restroom in restaurants or public buildings.
Which one should you use?
xí bệt specifically refers to a Western-style sitting toilet, whereas cầu tiêu is a more general term for a toilet or latrine that can be used more broadly. In contrast, xí bệt is used when you want to specify a sitting toilet rather than a squat toilet.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In polite or public settings, people are more likely to use the term nhà vệ sinh (restroom) rather than xí bệt or cầu tiêu. The terms Phòng vệ sinh and Nhà vệ sinh are formal ways to refer to a sanitary room or restroom.
Did you know?
- Vietnamese and Malay both use words meaning 'bridge' to refer to a latrine. In Malay, the word jamban comes from jambatan, meaning 'bridge'.
Examples in context
- Nhà vệ sinh ở đâu?Where is the toilet?
- Nhà vệ sinh namMen's toilet
- Nhà vệ sinh nữWomen's toilet
- Tôi muốn mua một cái xí bệt mới.I want to buy a new sitting toilet.
- Cái xí bệt này bị hỏng rồi.This sitting toilet is broken.
- Nhà vệ sinh này có xí bệt.This restroom has a sitting toilet.
Example conversation
Minh is showing Chi around his new apartment.
- MinhPhòng tắm có xí bệt nhé.The bathroom has a flush toilet.
- ChiVậy thì tiện lợi quá.That is very convenient then.
- MinhChi cứ tự nhiên nhé.Please make yourself at home, Chi.
- ChiCảm ơn Minh nhiều.Thank you very much, Minh.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toilet” translations and entries cầu tiêu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bệt, cầu, tiêu, xí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
