紙(かみ)ナプキン

かみなぷきん
noun
paper napkin
colloquialfooddaily-life
1. paper napkin
A disposable napkin made of paper, commonly provided at restaurants, cafes, and fast-food establishments.
紙(かみ)ナプキンを取(と)ってください。
Please pass me a paper napkin.
There are paper napkins on the table.
The child spilled their drink, so I wiped it up with a paper napkin.

A compound of 紙(かみ) (paper) and ナプキン (napkin, from English). In Japan, restaurants often provide おしぼり (wet towels) instead of paper napkins, so 紙(かみ)ナプキン is more associated with Western-style restaurants and fast-food chains.

Common collocations

  • 紙(かみ)ナプキンで拭(ふ)く: to wipe with a paper napkin
  • 紙(かみ)ナプキンを広(ひろ)げる: to unfold a paper napkin
  • 紙(かみ)ナプキンホルダー: napkin holder/dispenser

Similar words

  • ナプキン: napkin — the base word; in Japanese, also commonly refers to sanitary napkins
  • おしぼり: wet towel — provided at Japanese restaurants for hand-wiping
  • ティッシュ: tissue paper — for the nose or general-purpose wiping