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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "toilet" in Chinese?
马桶
mǎ tǒng
In Chinese, "toilet" is 马桶.
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Pronunciation
Say 'mah' (falling tone) then 'tong' (falling tone, rhymes with 'gong'). Two short, flat syllables.
Writing and usage
Two characters. 马 means horse and has ten strokes. 桶 means barrel or bucket and has ten strokes. Literally 'horse barrel'.
Example sentence
厕所的马桶坏了。
The toilet in the bathroom is broken.
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How to remember 马桶
Historically, toilets were barrels. Chinese speakers nicknamed them 'horse barrel' (possibly from the shape or size). It stuck as the common word.
Related words
- blanket 毯子 tǎn zi
- book cover 书籍封面 shū jí fēng miàn
- clothes hanger 衣架 yī jià
- family 家 jiā
- grater 擦菜器 cā cài qì
- microwave 微波炉 wēi bō lú
- picture 照片 zhào piàn
- spoon 勺子 sháo zi
- toothpaste 牙膏 yá gāo
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 马桶
How do you say "toilet" in Chinese?
In Chinese, "toilet" is 马桶. It is a noun.
How is 马桶 written in Chinese?
Two characters. 马 means horse and has ten strokes. 桶 means barrel or bucket and has ten strokes. Literally 'horse barrel'.
How is 马桶 used in a sentence?
Use 马桶 as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: 厕所的马桶坏了。 (The toilet in the bathroom is broken.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Toilet" in other languages
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