WC in different languages (Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages) Language Learning Forum

WC in different languages
Tags: Meaning of words \| Multilingual
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Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages

43 messages over 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Snowflake
Senior Member
United States
Joined 5753 days ago
1032 posts - 1233 votes

Studies: Mandarin

Message 41 of 43

08 September 2012 at 7:38am | IP Logged

Duke100782 wrote:

When I first started using Chinese Mandarin, I used to ask "Cesuo zai nar?" when looking for the lavatory, until once while sharing a pizza in restaurant with my Mandarin teacher she corrected me by saying that "Cesuo" was too coarse to use for a polite situation, and it would be preferable for me to use the more elegant "Weishengjian".

Yes, that's correct. I personally use xi2shou3jian1 which is also polite enough.

Edited by Snowflake on 08 September 2012 at 8:14am
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songlines
Pro Member
Canada
flickr.com/photos/cp
Joined 5003 days ago
729 posts - 1056 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: French
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Message 42 of 43

08 September 2012 at 5:09pm | IP Logged

Dagane wrote:

I had found different words in English, for example WC, toilet, lavatory and loo (I think I'm the
first one in mentioning this one and I don't really know if whether is formal or informal)

A quick note re. "loo": this term isn't known in American English. It's used in Britain and some other countries, e.g.
Ireland and Australia. I'm often/generally understood when I use it here in Canada, but most people use
"washroom" when asking for directions in stores, restaurants, etc.

1 person has voted this message useful

Dagane
Triglot
Senior Member
SpainRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 4305 days ago
259 posts - 324 votes

Speaks: Spanish*, English^B2, Galician
Studies: German
Studies: Czech

Message 43 of 43

08 September 2012 at 11:52pm | IP Logged

Quote:

A quick note re. "loo": this term isn't known in American English. It's used in Britain and some other countries, e.g.

Thanks, I appreciate your explanation. I'm really curious about the differences between American and British English. It's really hard to distinguish a word from a particular region when the language is so extended as English is.

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