Korean Dictionary
How to say "Restroom" in Korean
“Restroom” in Korean is 화장실 (pronounced "Hwajangsil").
화장실
Hwajangsil
Usage & Context
Korea has excellent public restroom facilities. Most tourist areas, subway stations, parks, and public buildings have clean, free restrooms. Some traditional areas (like Insa-dong) may be harder to find restrooms, so use them whenever convenient. 어디예요 added to 화장실 asks where it is.
Example Sentence
화장실이 어디에 있어요?
Where is the restroom?
How to use 화장실 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Restroom” is 화장실, romanized as Hwajangsil.
Usage tip
Pair this travel word with polite request endings like -요 so it works in hotels, stations, taxis, and shops.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 화장실.
Pronunciation Guide
'화장실' (Hwajangsil) is pronounced 'hwah-jahng-shil'. '화' (hwa) sounds like 'hwah' (as in 'hwah-t'). '장' (jang) is like 'jahng' (as in 'jang-gle'). '실' (sil) is like 'shil' (as in 'shill'). The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Asking for directions to the restroom in a public place.
화장실이 어디에 있어요?
Where is the restroom?
Politely asking to use the restroom at a cafe or shop.
화장실 좀 써도 될까요?
May I use the restroom?
Giving directions to a male friend.
남자 화장실은 저쪽이에요.
The men's restroom is over there.
Cultural Context
South Korea is well-known for its clean and accessible public restrooms. You can find them in subway stations, department stores, parks, and even many small cafes. Look for signs with '화장실' (Hwajangsil) or pictograms. Often, there will be separate signs for men (남자 - namja) and women (여자 - yeoja). In some older or very traditional areas, finding a public restroom might be slightly more challenging, but generally, they are plentiful and well-maintained.
Editorial note
We review entries like 화장실 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
화장실 가고 싶어요.
I want to go to the restroom.
화장실 급해요.
I urgently need the restroom.
화장실이 가까이 있어요?
Is there a restroom nearby?
Related Expressions
어디예요?
Eodiyeoyo?
Where is it?
남자 화장실
Namja hwajangsil
Men's restroom
여자 화장실
Yeoja hwajangsil
Women's restroom
공중 화장실
Gongjung hwajangsil
Public restroom
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