lavatory

Compared meaning: the fixture or room used to relieve oneself (noun).

比较义项：厕所（名词）。

• toilet

  The plain, ordinary word for this facility, used at home and in most public places; direct and neutral, without technical or formal overtones.

  这是该设施最普通、最日常的说法，家里和大多数公共场所都用；语气直接、中性，没有专业或正式的意味。

  My son really needs to find a toilet right now!

  我儿子现在特别想上厕所，得赶紧找一个！

• lavatory 本词

  A more formal or technical word, chiefly used for the small toilet compartment on an airplane or train, or on official signs; sounds stiff in ordinary conversation.

  这是更正式、更专业的说法，主要用于飞机或火车上的小厕所隔间，或官方标识上；日常口语中使用会显得生硬。

  The flight attendant announced that the lavatory at the back of the plane was out of service.

  空乘宣布飞机后部的厕所暂时无法使用。

Toilet and lavatory both refer to this facility, but differ in formality. Toilet is the plain, everyday word, used at home and in most public places. Lavatory is more formal or technical, mainly used for the small toilet on an airplane or train.

这两个词在“厕所”这个意思上很接近，容易混淆，但语域不同：toilet 是最普通、最日常的说法，lavatory 更正式、更书面，常见于飞机、火车或官方标识上。