gung1 gung6 ci3 so2公共廁所公共厕所
Jyutpinggung1 gung6 ci3 so2
Yalegūng guhng chi só
Definition
Public toilet
neutralplaces
How it's used
Native speakers rarely use the full term in casual conversation, preferring the simpler 廁所 or the more specific 洗手間. When asking for directions, people often just ask for 廁所 to sound more natural and less formal. Using the full term can sound slightly clinical or like reading from a government sign.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Excuse me, is there a public toilet nearby?
The public toilet here is very dirty.
Related words
Common phrases
to look for a public toilet
public toilet facilities
Common mistake
Do not use 公共廁所 in a social setting when asking a friend where the bathroom is, as it sounds overly formal and stiff. Simply using 廁所 is perfectly polite and standard in almost all contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
