URL
Lesson Introduction
Today's podcast will introduce you to one of the most basic and important of sentences in any language. After this lesson you shouldn't ever have a problem getting directions to a bathroom in Italy!
Comments 
To comment, please login.
Comments Policy
Allowed comments do not necessarily represent the views of ChinesePod.com. We also reserve the right to reject personal attacks, false/unsubstantiated allegations, spamming of any kind, and comments that include vulgar language or libelous statements.
Out of consideration for our Newbie and Elementary users, English translations should be provided with any Chinese (characters or pinyin) written in Newbie and Elementary lesson discussion posts. New lesson idea? Please let us know on our contact page.
user2048 says
July 31, 2008
Ciao tutti:
Indeed an important lesson. In touring “Dov’è un bagno pubblico?” is a useful phrase as I have found shops and bars in tourist areas discourage use of the bagno unless you buy something.
Is “là” acceptable in place of “in fondo” as in the statement “Il bagno è là a destra.” ? On a train “in fondo” as at the end of a carriage seems appropriate but is “in fondo” used in other locations?
The audio seems to be missing for the expansion and listening exercise.
sonobono says
July 31, 2008
I'm confused by 'fondo'; it means 'deep' according to my dictionary; is 'la in fondo' another Italian idiom? similar to 'cavolo'? grazie, Al
marcod says
July 31, 2008
[il] fondo is a noun and it means bottom, end, back but most of the time you will hear it with the in before fondo:
in fondo is a "locuzione avverbale di luogo", so basically it's an adverb and it means "at the bottom"
, "at the end". Now it can be use horizontally (distance) and vertically (depth), so to speak.
examples:
- in fondo al mare (at the bottom of the sea), giù in fondo (deep down)
- in fondo al treno (at the rear of the train), in fondo alla strada (at the end of the street)
marcod says
July 31, 2008
@user2048: il bagno è là a destra / la seconda porta a sinistra / al primo piano / qua / dietro...they all work fine!
and yes, some places might ask you to buy something, but since public toilets may also charge something (I remember the toilets at the train station in Verona charges something like 50 cents or even 1 euro!!!thieves! don't go there!) you might want to buy a coffee for 80 cents and use the toilet!
user2048 says
August 1, 2008
Marco: Grazie. The last time I was in Italy (in 2003) an espresso cost from 1 to 2 euros. Still, even with the present exchange rate for the dollar, it's a cheap price to pay for un bagno pulito when you really need one.
blueschaeffer says
August 13, 2009
Do Italians ever use the phrase WC for a bathroom? I know in England and France, they sometimes use "WC" for water closet, or the room where the toilet is, instead of bathroom or la salle de bains?
annaa says
August 17, 2009
Yes blueshaeffer, sometimes in Italian we also use the phrase WC to say "bagno". We refer to the room where the toilet is. So people can also ask "Dov'è il WC?"
We pronounce it V like Venezia and C like Ciao.
jonija1 says
October 14, 2009
I'm enjoying and learning at my own pace. Good method. Simple and efficient. thanks a lot
catherinem says
November 3, 2009
@jonija1
Thanks for your comment! I'm glad you enjoy our method. If you have questions or comments on the things you hear in our podcasts, just post them on lessons or in the community section.