Translation guide
A sanitary napkin is an absorbent pad worn during menstruation. In Japanese, the most common term is 生理用ナプキン, often shortened to ナプキン in context. This guide covers everyday vocabulary, shopping phrases, and related expressions.
sanitary napkin
Most common term. Often shortened to ナプキン.
The most common, neutral way to refer to a sanitary napkin in Japanese.
The standard, polite term. Literally 'menstrual napkin'. Used in stores, packaging, and formal contexts.
I need to buy sanitary napkins.
Shortened form, very common in everyday conversation when the context is clear. Can also mean 'napkin' (table napkin), but usually understood as sanitary napkin in context.
Do you have a pad?
Informal terms used among friends or in casual settings.
Common descriptors for different kinds of sanitary napkins.
Useful phrases for buying or asking for sanitary napkins.
The word ナプキン alone can mean both 'sanitary napkin' and 'table napkin'. Context usually makes it clear, but in a restaurant, ナプキン means a cloth or paper napkin. To be specific, use 生理用ナプキン.
If you want to be discreet, you can say 生理用品 (menstrual products) or simply point and say あれ (that thing). Many stores put sanitary products in plain paper bags at checkout.
Can you buy me, you know, that thing?
I switched to pads for light days.
Long-lasting pads are convenient at night.