/ˈhæŋkətʃɪf;-tʃi:f ||; ˈhæŋkɚtʃɪf; -tʃif/noun [C] (plural handkerchiefs or handkerchieves /-tʃi:vz ||; -tʃivz/) a square piece of cloth or soft thin paper that you use for clearing your nose 手帕；纸巾 ☞A more informal word is hanky or hankie. A handkerchief that is made of soft thin paper is also called a paper handkerchief or a tissue. 非正式场合用hanky或hankie。纸巾又叫做paper handkerchief或tissue。