How to say "restroom" in Japanese

• トイレJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounAn abbreviated loanword for the toilet, covering both the room and the fixture; neutral in tone, it is the word for everyday situations, from asking where one is to casual chat.
  トイレの水みずが止とまりません。↗

  The toilet won't stop running.
• お手洗いおてあらいJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounA polite word for the restroom, built on the literal 'hand-washing' with an honorific prefix; it is the natural choice in conversation with strangers, at work, or on formal occasions.
  お手洗てあらいはどこですか。↗

  Where's the restroom?
• 便所べんじょJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA blunt, direct word for the toilet; perfectly understandable, but it can sound coarse in conversation, so it is not the word to reach for when politeness matters.
  生徒せいとはこの便所べんじょを使つかってはならない。↗

  Students must not use this toilet.
• 手洗いてあらいJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounLiterally the act or place of washing one's hands; as a restroom word it works as a mild euphemism, gentler than 便所 and less deferential than お手洗い, which simply adds an honorific prefix.
  婦人ふじん用よう手洗てあらいはどこですか。↗

  Where is the ladies' room?
• 衛生えいせいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThis word really means hygiene or sanitation, not the restroom itself; you would not use it to ask where the toilet is, so it is seldom the word you want here.

For everyday use, 「トイレ」 is the neutral choice and 「お手洗い」 the polite one; 「手洗い」 is a more casual euphemism, 便所 is blunt and best avoided in polite speech, and 衛生 means hygiene rather than the restroom.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• トイレtoilet
• お手洗いおてあらいtoilet
• 便所べんじょtoilet
• レストルームrestroom
• ＷＣダブリュー・シーwater closet
• 手洗いてあらいrestroom
• 衛生えいせいtoilet