bathroom vacant/engaged

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Japanese

Mar 23, 2011 19:04

In Australia, and possibly many other countries, the lock on the cubicle door can either be turned to a green "vacant" position, or a red "engaged" position.

Here is my textbook sentence:

トイレがふさがっている [空いている]
The bathroom is occupied [not occupied]

I have copied the textbook sentence exactly. However, I don't know how to divide the sentence properly. Maybe it's like this:

トイレがふさがっている
トイレが空いている

Thanks, as always, for your corrections, comments and encouragement. I appreciate your patience and fortitude!

雅各 .*★*.
.*★ *.* 　　 ★
★　　　　　 *
★ .’
‘*.　　　 .
` . .

emma

Mar 23, 2011 19:31

それで合ってますよ。
空いている⇒vacant
ふさがっている⇒engaged

Mar 23, 2011 19:39 雅各

Thanks for your help emmaさん!

Mimi ^.^

Thank you for your correction!

Mar 23, 2011 20:00

トイレがふさがっている [空いている]
トイレがふさがっている [空いている] However, I think we normally express as トイレが（は）使用中である。

One question. I do decorative painting and I want to make a signboard to be hanged at the toilet door. If I use English I should write "Vacant" and "Occupied" on the other side, or "Open" and "Engaged"?? Which one is better??

Mar 23, 2011 19:55 Mimi ^.^

In Japanese, it should be 「空いています」and 「使用中」

Mar 23, 2011 20:21 雅各

二三夏Fumikaさん. For your sign I'd say "vacant" and "engaged". But remember, I'm only saying what an Australian would be accustomed to. I recommend you ask someone from the UK and the US as well.

Mar 24, 2011 18:01 Mimi ^.^

"vacant" and "engaged"！I see, thank you very much.

Now I have a friend from UK, and I sometimes realize what I learned (I lived in Tassie long time ago) in Aussie is not used in UK. But I am going to stick to Aussie English (as it is my second home) so I will use the "vacant" and "engaged" signs, thank you!!