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Lugubert -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Meng Lelan

In an American classroom it's okay to say you want to go to the bathroom and be direct about it ,
but in a Chinese classroom you don't want to be *that* direct about it.


Using "bathroom" for the loo doesn't strike me as being very direct...



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Meng Lelan -



Quote:

I would never tell other people that I am 內急 or I have to go to 方便.

方便means "convenient", not to be confused with 大便 or 小便



Quote:

Using "bathroom" for the loo doesn't strike me as being very direct...

Saying 厕所 might not seem very direct to you but it does seem pretty direct to the Chinese
teacher in a Chinese classroom with Chinese classmates. Though it's understandable in a less
formal classroom situation. I wouldn't want to say in front of everyone I'm going to the 厕所 ,
too embarassing I guess.










skylee -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Meng Lelan



Quote:

I would never tell other people that I am 內急 or I have to go to 方便.

方便means "convenient", not to be confused with 大便 or 小便


That's right, but it doesn't mean that I would use it.










Lugubert -

I wasn't referring to cesuo, but to the English euphemism "bathroom" (or, for that matter,
"lavatory").










Koneko -

I normally use the English word, loo, for 厕所.










jie2li4 -

Actually I find that people in Taiwan are very open (perhaps too open?) about things like this. I
teach at a 补习班, and people-- kids and teachers alike-- say 上厕所 all the time. Unless
you're talking about kids under the age of seven or so, who say 老师，我要去尿尿！ Kind
of like "I have to go potty!" in English, I guess.

In Beijing, on the other hand, I don't think I ever heard anyone say 厕所。 People always said
洗手间 or 卫生间。 In Taiwan, I only see those words on signs, but everyone seems to say
厕所。 A regional difference?










Gulao -

Maybe I'm completely off the mark, here, but "我能不能去厕所？" Sounds like it would
garner odd looks to me. 能, to me always implied capability, and it's use in such a question
would be to ask if I have the capability to go to the restroom. Now, I've seen evidence to suggest
that this definition can alter in much the same way that the English word, "can," can alter, to
mean something more along the lines of "may." But as someone who was brought up on the response,
"I don't know, can you?" I'm inclined to thumb my nose at such a use, anyway.










Koneko -



Quote:

A regional difference?

Well, what can I say? It's more like a regional preference.










Ding Yiyi -

I was always under the impression that 卫生间 would be the preferred noun in this sentence as
it is more along the lines of "restroom" than 厕所 which is "toilet."

As to the actual structure of the sentence, I would choose the first, it sounds more along the
lines of asking permission.










Koneko -

Would 化装间 [lit. powder room] be anymore appropriate?
We don't use it in Modern Chinese these days but it's still commonly used in Japan.












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