<![CDATA[Comments on: Dirty Little Hands]]> 2008-10-08 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: chris]]> Hi all,

I often see 洗手间 （xi shou jian - wash hands room) as the sign for public toilets in Shanghai.

However, when asking where the toilets are it is often "ce4 suo3" that is used.

Are there any rules here - or can one use the above two terms completely interchangeably.  Xi Shou Jian, in my mind, sounds a bit more polite.

Thanks, chris

]]> Hi all,

I often see 洗手间 （xi shou jian - wash hands room) as the sign for public toilets in Shanghai.

However, when asking where the toilets are it is often "ce4 suo3" that is used.

Are there any rules here - or can one use the above two terms completely interchangeably.  Xi Shou Jian, in my mind, sounds a bit more polite.

Thanks, chris

]]> <![CDATA[By: pearltowerpete]]> Hi chris

洗手间 is a bit more polite, it seems to be used more commonly in swanky restaurants. The 所 in  厕所 refers to "a place," so there are many compounds that use it:

研究所ｙａｎ２ｊｉｕ１ｓｕｏ３　Research Institute

派出所 pai4chu1suo3 Police Station

Frankly, I prefer the earthier 我去上个厕所 to 我去一下洗手间. For the same reason, I find the English words "restroom," "little boys' room," etc. affected and painfully middle class. When you see a spade, call it a spade. But your mileage may vary :-0

]]> Hi chris

洗手间 is a bit more polite, it seems to be used more commonly in swanky restaurants. The 所 in  厕所 refers to "a place," so there are many compounds that use it:

研究所ｙａｎ２ｊｉｕ１ｓｕｏ３　Research Institute

派出所 pai4chu1suo3 Police Station

Frankly, I prefer the earthier 我去上个厕所 to 我去一下洗手间. For the same reason, I find the English words "restroom," "little boys' room," etc. affected and painfully middle class. When you see a spade, call it a spade. But your mileage may vary :-0

]]> <![CDATA[By: shanghaichanges]]> Speaking of hygiene. I could do with a useful phrase input. How do you say:

"I think my eczema is coming back"

(Don't worry it's very mild for all the squeamish in here)

I need to say that to the doctor when I go to the 医院。

]]> Speaking of hygiene. I could do with a useful phrase input. How do you say:

"I think my eczema is coming back"

(Don't worry it's very mild for all the squeamish in here)

I need to say that to the doctor when I go to the 医院。

]]> <![CDATA[By: mingdao]]> 湿疹 shī zhěn is eczema

我想我的湿疹再发病了

Wo3 xiang3 wo3de shi1zhen3 zai4 fa1bing4le.

If it's okay for fureners to try a hand at it. ;)

]]> 湿疹 shī zhěn is eczema

我想我的湿疹再发病了

Wo3 xiang3 wo3de shi1zhen3 zai4 fa1bing4le.

If it's okay for fureners to try a hand at it. ;)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennyzhu]]> checkingoutchina,

Eczema is 湿疹/shi1 zhen3. 'I think my eczema is coming back' is 我又发湿疹了/wo3 you4 fa1 shi1 zhen3 le. The verb 发 means 'break out'.

]]> checkingoutchina,

Eczema is 湿疹/shi1 zhen3. 'I think my eczema is coming back' is 我又发湿疹了/wo3 you4 fa1 shi1 zhen3 le. The verb 发 means 'break out'.

]]> <![CDATA[By: mingdao]]> As for the toilet, where we live they say 卫生间 wei4sheng1jian1 for toilet, especially in your house. They reserve 厕所 ce4suo3 for the public toilets. Even so, 卫生间 wei4sheng1jian1 always gets us a restroom in Kunming.

In the villages, it's usually just a spot on the highest hillside. ;)

]]> As for the toilet, where we live they say 卫生间 wei4sheng1jian1 for toilet, especially in your house. They reserve 厕所 ce4suo3 for the public toilets. Even so, 卫生间 wei4sheng1jian1 always gets us a restroom in Kunming.

In the villages, it's usually just a spot on the highest hillside. ;)

]]> <![CDATA[By: amber]]> hey checkingoutchina,

You can also put it this way:

我想我的湿疹复发了。Wǒ xiǎng wǒ de shīzhěn fùfā le.

]]> hey checkingoutchina,

You can also put it this way:

我想我的湿疹复发了。Wǒ xiǎng wǒ de shīzhěn fùfā le.

]]> <![CDATA[By: corwin]]> thx for  洗手间

]]> thx for  洗手间

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> Listening to this lesson makes me realise where I am at with my chinese language ability. I can hear a bunch of words that I recognise but not enough to understand immediately what is being said. Having said that though, I can identify which words mean what as soon as the first translation is done. So I think I am at the upper beginner level at this point.

I guess I am just now starting to understand the language.. I may not understand every word but I am starting to understand it as a whole and how the bits and pieces go together.. not that I can totally reproduce it.. just that I am getting a grasp of it now.

At the end of the podcast.. who is that speaking? It sounds a lot like Aric..?

 

]]> Listening to this lesson makes me realise where I am at with my chinese language ability. I can hear a bunch of words that I recognise but not enough to understand immediately what is being said. Having said that though, I can identify which words mean what as soon as the first translation is done. So I think I am at the upper beginner level at this point.

I guess I am just now starting to understand the language.. I may not understand every word but I am starting to understand it as a whole and how the bits and pieces go together.. not that I can totally reproduce it.. just that I am getting a grasp of it now.

At the end of the podcast.. who is that speaking? It sounds a lot like Aric..?

 

]]> <![CDATA[By: changye]]> Hi checkingoutchina,

I have eczema on the lids. It often comes back when the air is dry. It's really itchy. 同病相怜 (tong2 bing4 xiang1 lian2)吧 (ba), hehe！(Misery loves company!)

好像我的湿疹又犯了。
hao3 xiang4 wo3 de shi1 zhen3 you4 fan4 le.
It seems that my eczema is coming back.

]]> Hi checkingoutchina,

I have eczema on the lids. It often comes back when the air is dry. It's really itchy. 同病相怜 (tong2 bing4 xiang1 lian2)吧 (ba), hehe！(Misery loves company!)

好像我的湿疹又犯了。
hao3 xiang4 wo3 de shi1 zhen3 you4 fan4 le.
It seems that my eczema is coming back.

]]>