What it means
دستمال کاغذی (dastmâl-kâghazi) means tissue paper or paper napkin, referring to the disposable paper sheets used to wipe hands, noses, or surfaces. The compound joins دستمال (dastmâl), a cloth or handkerchief, with کاغذی (kâghazi), meaning made of paper. While دستمال comes from the Persian roots dast (hand) and mâl (wiping), the word کاغذ (kâghaz, paper) traveled into Persian via Sogdian, ultimately tracing back to Chinese. A close synonym in formal or older usage is دستمال کاغذی یکبار مصرف (yekbâr masraf), meaning single-use tissue, though most people simply say دستمال کاغذی.
How to use it
- یه جعبه دستمال کاغذی از روی میز بیار. (ye ja’be dastmâl-kâghazi az ru-ye miz biâr.) “Bring a box of tissues from the table.”
- دستمال کاغذی تموم شد، باید بخریم. (dastmâl-kâghazi tamum shod, bâyad bekharim.) “The tissues have run out, we need to buy more.”
- با دستمال کاغذی دستاتو پاک کن. (bâ dastmâl-kâghazi dastâto pâk kon.) “Wipe your hands with a tissue.”
- همیشه تو کیفم دستمال کاغذی دارم. (hamishe tu kifam dastmâl-kâghazi dâram.) “I always have tissues in my bag.”
Cultural note
Boxed tissues are a fixture on Iranian dining tables, desks, and in car gloveboxes. In restaurants and at family meals it is standard to place a box of دستمال کاغذی in the center of the table rather than fabric napkins. Pocket-sized tissue packs are also widely sold at street kiosks and pharmacies across Iran.