Translation guide
The English word 'towel' refers to a piece of absorbent cloth used for drying. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is タオル, a loanword from English. There are also traditional Japanese towels like 手ぬぐい, and specific terms for bath towels, face towels, etc.
タオル
towel
A piece of absorbent fabric used for drying the body, hands, or objects.
The most common and versatile word for 'towel' in Japanese. It is a loanword from English and covers most types of towels.
タオルで手を拭いてください。
Please dry your hands with a towel.
このタオルはとても柔らかい。
This towel is very soft.
A traditional Japanese hand towel, typically made of thin cotton and often used as a washcloth, headband, or for wrapping. It is not terry cloth and dries quickly.
温泉で手ぬぐいを使う。
I use a tenugui at the hot spring.
A large towel used for drying the body after bathing.
Specifically a bath towel, larger than a face towel.
バスタオルで体を拭く。
I dry my body with a bath towel.
A small towel for the face or hands.
A face towel, smaller than a bath towel.
洗面所にフェイスタオルを掛ける。
I hang a face towel in the bathroom.
A hand towel, often used in restrooms or kitchens.
ハンドタオルで手を拭く。
I dry my hands with a hand towel.
The action of using a towel to dry something.
Literally 'wipe with a towel'. This is the standard way to express 'to towel off' or 'to towel dry'.
シャワーの後、タオルで拭いた。
After the shower, I toweled off.
Disposable absorbent paper used for cleaning.
Paper towel, often used in kitchens.
ペーパータオルでこぼした水を拭く。
I wipe up spilled water with a paper towel.
While タオル is the general term, 手ぬぐい (tenugui) is a traditional thin cotton cloth without terry loops. It is often used as a souvenir, headband, or decorative item, and is not typically used as a bath towel.
Kitchen paper, essentially the same as paper towels but often sold in rolls for kitchen use.
キッチンペーパーで油を吸い取る。
I soak up oil with a paper towel.