厕所
在美国一般都叫rest room或bath room(男女厕均可)或分别叫做 men‘s room 或 ladies‘ room(=powder room),不过在飞机上,则叫 lavatory,在军中又叫 latrine。至于 W.C.(water closet)仍是过去英国人用的,在美国,几乎没有人使用。
最普通的说法是 to urinate(名词是 urination),如果去看病,护士为了化验小便,就会给你一个杯子说:「Will (could) you urinate in this cup?」医生或许也会问:「Do you have trouble urinating?」=Do you have difficulty voiding?(小便有困难吗?)
此外,还有其他的说法:to piss = to take a piss = to take a leak = to void = to empty。 例如:
* I need to piss = I have to take a leak.
* How often do you get up at night to void?(晚上起床小便几次?)
此外,john(j 小写时,不是男人名字)是 bath room 或 toilet 的意思(也叫 outhouse),这通常是指在户外工作场地所使用的临时或流动性厕所(有时前面也加 portable 一字)。不过也有老外把家里的厕所叫做 john。 例如:
* There are several (portable) johns in the construction site.(在建筑场地有几个临时厕所。)
* He went to the john a few minutes ago.(他在几分钟前上了厕所。)
* The manual labours have to use (portable) johns during their working hours.(劳动者在工作时间内需要使用流动性厕所。)
不过,小孩多半用 to pee 。例如:
* The boy needs to pee.
然而,「小便检查」又叫做 urine test,因为这里的 urine 是化验的样品(specimen)。 例如:
* Do I need a urine test?
注意:to piss off 是片语,又是指对人生气或对事物的不满。不过这是不礼貌的片语,少用为妙。 例如:
* He pissed me off. = He made me angry.
* He always pisses off (at) the society.(对社会不满)
如果「小便」有毛病,也可以告诉医生说:
* My urine is cloudy and it smells strong.(有浊尿,味道很重)
* I have pus (或air)in urine.(尿有泡沫) (pus = cloudy; air = bubble)
* I dribble a little urine after I have finished urinating.(小便后还会滴滴答答。)(即失禁毛病)
* I am passing less urine than usual.(小便的量比平时少)