テーブルナプキン

てーぶるなぷきん

noun

table napkin; dinner napkin

1. table napkin; dinner napkin; serviette

A cloth or paper napkin placed on the dining table or on the lap during a meal. Especially the kind set out at restaurants or formal dinners; called this to distinguish from 紙(かみ)ナプキン (sanitary pad) and similar terms.

テーブルナプキンを膝(ひざ)に置(お)いた。

I placed the napkin on my lap.

布製(ぬのせい)のテーブルナプキンを使(つか)う店(みせ)が多(おお)い。

Many restaurants use cloth table napkins.

食事(しょくじ)の前(まえ)に、テーブルナプキンを広(ひろ)げて膝(ひざ)にかけるのが正式(せいしき)なマナーだ。

Formal etiquette says to unfold the napkin and place it on your lap before eating.

From English "table napkin." Used in restaurants and formal dining contexts, often distinguishing the dining-table napkin from other Japanese senses of ナプキン (which alone often suggests sanitary pads).

Common collocations

テーブルナプキンを膝(ひざ)に置(お)く: to place the napkin on one's lap
テーブルナプキンで口(くち)を拭(ふ)く: to wipe one's mouth with the napkin
布製(ぬのせい)のテーブルナプキン: cloth napkin

Similar words

ナプキン: napkin — alone, this term often refers to sanitary pads in casual speech, so the fuller form テーブルナプキン is preferred for dining contexts
紙(かみ)ナプキン: paper napkin — disposable dining napkin
おしぼり: hot/cold hand towel — given to guests before a meal in Japan, not the same as a napkin

Related Words

Related: ナプキン (napkin)

Compare: 紙(かみ)ナプキン (paper napkin)

Compare: おしぼり (hot/cold hand towel)

general

Added 2026.5.13 8:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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