Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common way to refer to a facial tissue is ティッシュ, a loanword from English. The traditional Japanese word ちり紙 exists but is less common in everyday speech. This guide covers how to naturally talk about facial tissues in various contexts.
The learner wants to refer to a facial tissue in everyday conversation.
The most common and natural word for facial tissue. It is a loanword from English and is used in all everyday situations.
ティッシュを取ってくれる？
Can you pass me a tissue?
鼻をかむからティッシュが欲しい。
I need a tissue to blow my nose.
A slightly more formal or explicit term, literally 'tissue paper'. It is understood but less common in casual speech than ティッシュ.
ティッシュペーパーはどこにありますか？
Where are the facial tissues?
The traditional Japanese word for tissue paper. It is less common today and may sound old-fashioned or refer to coarser paper. Still understood, especially by older generations.
ちり紙を一枚ください。
Please give me a tissue.
The learner wants to refer to a box of facial tissues, not just a single tissue.
The standard way to say 'box of tissues'. It combines 箱 (box) with ティッシュ.
箱ティッシュを買ってきて。
Buy a box of tissues on your way home.
机の上に箱ティッシュがある。
There's a box of tissues on the desk.
Literally 'box of tissues'. It is grammatically correct and understood, but 箱ティッシュ is more common and natural.
ティッシュの箱が空になった。
The tissue box is empty.
The learner wants to refer to the small packs of tissues often given out as freebies in Japan.
The standard term for pocket-sized tissue packs. These are commonly handed out for advertising on streets.
駅前でポケットティッシュをもらった。
I got a pocket tissue pack in front of the station.
ティッシュ is a very common word and can be used in almost any situation. It is understood by all age groups. When asking for a tissue, simply say ティッシュをください or ティッシュある？ in casual settings.
While ちり紙 is the traditional word, it may sound outdated or refer to a different type of paper. Stick to ティッシュ unless you are intentionally using an old-fashioned term.