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便所 (べんじょ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
toilet ; lavatory ; restroom
A common word for a toilet or restroom, but it can sound more direct, old-fashioned, or less refined than トイレ or お手洗い. Often used straightforwardly for the facility itself, as in 公衆便所.
See also: トイレ
公こう 園えん の 便べん 所じょ は 夜よる に なる と 閉し まる 。
The toilet in the park closes at night.
Kanji 便 convenience, facility, excrement Similar words トイレ More common and generally softer in everyday speech; often the safest casual word for a toilet or restroom.
お 手て 洗あら い Politer and more refined than 便所, especially when asking where the restroom is.
洗せん 面めん 所じょ Refers to a washroom or sink area; depending on the building it may not mean a toilet.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound written with 便, associated here with relieving oneself or bodily waste, and 所, meaning 'place'. The spelling transparently indicates a place for toilet use.
