Finding a Restroom in China: What to Say and What to Expect
Every traveler hits this in the first hour off the plane, usually somewhere between the luggage carousel and the taxi queue. English signage exists at airports and large malls, but once you are on a side street or in a park, the sign above the door is your only clue.
The words below will get you pointed in the right direction, and the tips tell you what to expect when you push the door open. Some of it is not what you are used to.
Useful phrases
- 洗手间在哪里？Where is the restroom?
The safest word inside a hotel, restaurant or mall. It translates literally as hand-washing room, and staff respond to it instantly.
- 卫生间在哪里？Where is the restroom?
卫生间 is the word printed on most public signage, so use it to match what you see on the wall. Save 洗手间 for when you are asking a person.
- 请问，厕所在哪里？Excuse me, where is the toilet?
厕所 is blunt but completely normal, and fine anywhere from a train station to a street stall. 请问 at the front softens any question you are about to ask.
- 有厕所吗？Is there a toilet?
Ask this before you buy anything in a small shop. The honest answer is often no, and it saves you standing there with a purchase you did not want.
- 我可以用一下吗？Can I use it?
The polite form for walking into a hotel or café you are not a customer of. Buying a bottle of water first smooths the whole thing over.
- 男厕所在哪边？Which way is the men's?
Signs use 男 (male) and 女 (female), often with a picture beside them. If the hallway splits, ask rather than guess — the wrong door is a memorable mistake.
- 里面有纸吗？Is there toilet paper inside?
Bring your own. Public toilets at stations, parks and older sights frequently do not supply paper, and the answer to this question is often a plain 没有.
- 是坐便还是蹲便？Is it a sitting toilet or a squat toilet?
蹲便 (squat) is still common across China. If you cannot manage one, hotels, malls and newer metro stations almost always have a seated option.
- 需要买票吗？Do I need to pay?
A few station and scenic-area toilets still charge a small fee at the door. Keep a couple of one-yuan coins in your pocket for exactly this.
- 没有纸了。There is no paper left.
Say it to the attendant if there is one sitting outside. Many sell a small pack of tissues for a coin or two, which is their whole job.
- 请问洗手间在几楼？Which floor is the restroom on?
Useful in malls, where each floor usually has one near the escalators or the food court. Signs are often small and easy to walk straight past.
- 我着急。I'm in a hurry.
Literally it means I am anxious or urgent. Said with a pained look, it gets people pointing you at the door without further questions.
- 有无障碍卫生间吗？Is there an accessible restroom?
无障碍 means barrier-free. Large malls and newer stations have one, often locked and opened by staff on request, so ask rather than assume.
- 好的，谢谢！Okay, thank you!
The standard close once someone has pointed you the right way. Repeat the direction back as you leave so they know you understood.
Quick cultural tip
The squat toilet reality
Squat toilets are still the default in most public restrooms — train stations, parks, highway stops and older restaurants. If you have never used one, practice your balance before you actually need it, because the floor is often wet and there is nothing to hold on to.
Carry your own tissue wherever you go. Public toilets rarely stock paper, and the attendant outside often sells a small pack for a yuan or two. In malls, hotels and newer metro stations, expect a normal seated toilet with paper supplied.