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March 24, 2026
厕(厠)cè(ce4)
The character 厕 (cè) refers to a toilet, lavatory, or restroom in Mandarin. It is commonly used in everyday contexts when discussing facilities for personal hygiene. The term emphasizes the function of the space as a place for relieving oneself.
Strokes8Radical厂Frequency#13193DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, public restrooms might vary significantly in cleanliness and amenities compared to Western standards, and many urban areas have signs indicating the location of nearby restrooms clearly, often marked as 厕所.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (the radical 厂) standing next to a small building (the radical 厶) with a sign that says 'RESTROOM' on it. The 'cè' sound can be remembered by thinking of someone saying 'See!' while pointing to the restroom.
Meanings of 厕
cè(ce4)
primary
1rest-room
2toilet
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 厕
厕Simplified
厠Traditional
8Strokes
厂Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#13193Frequency Rank
Podcast: 厕
Podcast: 厕
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AI Study Notes for 厕
Quick Contrast
厕所 (cèsuǒ) vs 厕所 (cèsuǒ) — use 厕 for a more informal or colloquial context, while 厕所 is the more standard term.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (the radical 厂) standing next to a small building (the radical 厶) with a sign that says 'RESTROOM' on it. The 'cè' sound can be remembered by thinking of someone saying 'See!' while pointing to the restroom.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 厕 with other similar characters like 茅厕 (máo cè) and may use them interchangeably. This word is informal and specific to restrooms, so it is best used in casual conversations rather than formal settings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 厕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to other HSK Level 1 and 2 words such as ‘洗手间’ (xǐshǒujiān, washroom) and ‘厕所’ (cèsuǒ, toilet). Students should focus on the context of using this word in practical conversations.
Cultural Note
In China, public restrooms might vary significantly in cleanliness and amenities compared to Western standards, and many urban areas have signs indicating the location of nearby restrooms clearly, often marked as 厕所.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 厕 in formal contexts, such as in business meetings or official documents. Instead, they should use 洗手间. Another common mistake is confusing it with similar characters like 厕所 and using them interchangeably without understanding the slight differences.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 厕
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Grammar Patterns of 厕
厕 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
有一次他裤链没拉就出了____所。
He once emerged from the toilets with his flies unfastened.
Example Sentences for 厕 (8)
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1
有一次他裤链没拉就出了厕所。
yǒu yī cì tā kù liàn méi lā jiù chū le cè suǒ。
He once emerged from the toilets with his flies unfastened.
2
一到坦普尔站，夏洛特立即冲进了女厕所。
yī dào tǎn pǔ ěr zhàn， ， xià luò tè lì jí chōng jìn le nǚ cè。
At Temple station, Charlotte rushed into the Ladies.
There was a permanent 20-yard queue for the portable toilets.
6
厕所里爬满了虫子。
cè suǒ lǐ pá mǎn le chóng zǐ。
The toilet was full to the brim with insects.
7
她走进女厕所,往脸上泼了些水.
tā zǒu jìn nǚ cè suǒ, , wǎng liǎn shàng pō le xiē.
She went to the ladies and threw some water on her face.
8
我可以用用你们的厕所吗--我实在憋不住了.
wǒ kě yǐ yòng yòng nǐ mén de cè suǒ ma-- -- wǒ shí zài biē bù zhù.
May I use your lavatory I'm bursting ! ie I need to urinate urgently.
Cultural Notes for 厕
🏮Cultural insight
In China, public restrooms might vary significantly in cleanliness and amenities compared to Western standards, and many urban areas have signs indicating the location of nearby restrooms clearly, often marked as 厕所.
Word Family of 厕
Words Containing This Character6
厕所cèsuǒtoilet廁所
厕cèrestroom廁
公厕public toilet公廁
男厕gents washroom男廁
女厕ladies washroom女廁
茅厕(dialect) latrine茅廁
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 厕所 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 厕
厕 (cè) is a variant of 廁 (cè), and both characters mean 'toilet' or 'lavatory'. The usage of one over the other can depend on regional preferences, but they are interchangeable in most contexts.
The word for 'toilet' in Chinese is 厕所 (cèsuǒ), which combines 厕 with 所 to mean 'place of the toilet'. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
厕 (cè) refers to a toilet or lavatory in Chinese. It can also be a variant of the character 廁, which has the same meaning. This character is commonly used in everyday language when referring to restrooms.
You can use 厕 in a sentence like '请问厕所在哪里？' which means 'Excuse me, where is the toilet?' It is often used in the context of asking for directions to a restroom.
No, 厕 is more commonly used in informal contexts. In formal writing, it's better to use 洗手间.
It is pronounced as 'cè', with a falling tone.
Yes, you’ll find both western-style toilets and traditional squat toilets in various locations.
