john
john — noun
1. a word used in everyday informal conversation for a room that contains a toilet,
a word used in everyday informal conversation for a room that contains a toilet, especially in a house, a restaurant, or a small public place
The guest asked the waiter where the john was before ordering his meal.
'ask [where] the john is' — polite request pattern
The children asked their mother where the john was near the park playground.
'ask where the john is' — inquiry pattern
My uncle always calls the little bathroom off the kitchen 'the john.'
The bus driver let everyone use the john at a diner during the break.
The janitor unlocked the john on the second floor for the evening class.
文法句型
the + john
use the john
go to the john
用法筆記
Often paired with the definite article ('the john') rather than the indefinite article. This usage is common in casual American speech but may sound dated to younger speakers in some regions.
常見錯誤
2. a man who pays a sex worker for sex — this meaning is now considered old-fashion
a man who pays a sex worker for sex — this meaning is now considered old-fashioned and rarely appears in everyday conversation outside of crime reports or historical writing
The detective explained that the victim had been meeting johns in the hotel for months.
'johns' as plural for clients — law-enforcement context
Adina found an article that used the word 'john' for men who paid for sex.
The training manual taught officers to question a suspected john fairly.
The documentary interviewed outreach workers who tried to warn johns about health risks.
Undercover officer Ingrid watched the john walk toward the hotel entrance.
文法句型
be a john
arrest johns
用法筆記
Frequently used in law-enforcement, journalism, and historical writing. The term is considered derogatory by some when applied to sex workers' clients. Modern alternatives like 'client' or 'customer' are more neutral. Do not confuse with the toilet sense — context (crime, sex work, policing) disambiguates.