Definition

Noun: - Latrine, toilet, water-closet: A structure or place equipped with a seat for defecation and urination. It is a direct and somewhat informal term for a toilet, often referring to a simple or basic facility, such as an outhouse or pit latrine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhà vệ sinh ở công viên thực chất chỉ là một cái cầu tiêu đơn giản. (The restroom in the park is essentially just a simple latrine.)
  • Trong chuyến đi cắm trại, chúng tôi phải dùng cầu tiêu tự hoại. (During the camping trip, we had to use a septic toilet.)
  • Ngôi làng xây thêm nhiều cầu tiêu mới để cải thiện vệ sinh môi trường. (The village built many new latrines to improve environmental sanitation.)

Advanced Usage

• The word 'cầu tiêu' is considered straightforward and utilitarian. It is commonly used in rural contexts or when describing basic sanitation facilities. In modern urban settings, more polite terms like 'nhà vệ sinh' (restroom) or 'toilet' are preferred.
• It can be part of compound terms specifying the type, such as 'cầu tiêu tự hoại' (septic toilet) or 'cầu tiêu hai ngăn' (twin-pit latrine).

Variants and Related Words

• Nhà vệ sinh (n): Restroom, bathroom. A more common and polite general term.
• Toilet (n): Toilet. A modern loanword widely used.
• Nhà cầu (n): Outhouse, privy. A synonym with a similar level of directness, often used interchangeably with 'cầu tiêu'.

Synonyms

• Nhà xí: Privy, outhouse. An older, synonymous term.
• Hố xí: Pit latrine. Specifically refers to a toilet with a pit.

Related Phrases

• Đi cầu tiêu: To go to the latrine/toilet. A direct phrase for using the toilet.
  • Em bé đang học cách nói khi muốn đi cầu tiêu. (The baby is learning how to say when they need to go to the toilet.)

Related Idioms

• Đầu đường xó chợ / Đầu cầu tiêu quán rượu: (Lit. "Street corner, market edge / Latrine entrance, tavern"). This idiom describes a disreputable, lowly, or vulgar place or social setting.
  • Hắn ta chỉ quen với hạng người đầu cầu tiêu quán rượu. (He only associates with people from the lowest dregs of society.)

noun

1. Latrine, toilet, water-closet