Japanese dictionary
How to say "towel" in Japanese
タオルたおる · taoru
"Towel" in Japanese is タオル (taoru). The wet towel you get at restaurants is おしぼり (oshibori).
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Ways to say "towel" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| タオルたおる · taoru | Towel. |
| バスタオルばすたおる · basu taoru | Bath towel. |
| おしぼりおしぼり · oshibori | Wet hand towel (at restaurants). |
| 手ぬぐいてぬぐい · tenugui | Traditional thin cotton towel. |
How to use it
Use おしぼり to wipe your hands, not your face, in formal settings.
At public baths, people often bring a small towel into the bath area but keep it out of the water.
Example sentences
- タオルを貸してください。Taoru o kashite kudasai.Please lend me a towel.
- ホテルにバスタオルはありますか。Hoteru ni basu taoru wa arimasu ka.Does the hotel have bath towels?
- おしぼりをどうぞ。Oshibori o dōzo.Here's a hand towel.
- お土産に手ぬぐいを買いました。O-miyage ni tenugui o kaimashita.I bought a tenugui towel as a souvenir.
- タオルは湯船に入れないでください。Taoru wa yubune ni irenaide kudasai.Please don't put towels in the bath.
- 暑いのでタオルを持っていきます。Atsui node taoru o motte ikimasu.It's hot, so I'll bring a towel.
Questions
What is おしぼり?
おしぼり (oshibori) is a wet towel served at restaurants to clean your hands before eating.
What are the towel rules at Japanese hot springs?
Don't put your towel in the bath water. Many people fold it on their head or leave it at the side.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.