1.
single eyelid; monolid (eyelid without a crease)
An eyelid that does not have a visible fold or crease above the eyelashes — one of the two basic Japanese descriptive categories for eyelid shape, the other being 二重まぶた (double eyelid). Common in East Asian populations and a major topic in makeup and cosmetic-surgery discussions in Japan.
Composed of 一重 (single layer, one-fold) and まぶた (eyelid). Describes an eyelid with no visible crease above the lash line. It is one of the standard physical-description terms in Japanese — not considered negative in itself, though many people who have 一重まぶた discuss makeup tricks or cosmetic surgery (二重整形) to create a crease.
Usage
- Used both attributively (一重まぶたの人 "a person with single eyelids") and as a predicate (私は一重まぶたです "I have single eyelids").
- Paired frequently with its opposite 二重まぶた (double eyelid). Note that 二重 here is read ふたえ, not にじゅう.
- Common in beauty magazines, makeup tutorials, and cosmetic-surgery advertisements. In casual speech, people often drop まぶた and say just 一重 ("I'm a hitoe").
Cultural note
In Japan, eyelid shape is discussed much more openly than in many Western countries. Double eyelids (二重まぶた) are widely considered more fashionable, and products such as double-eyelid adhesive tapes and glues (アイプチ, アイテープ) are sold in drugstores. There are also people with 奥二重 — a partial crease hidden behind the eyelid — which is often counted as its own category.
Common collocations
- 一重まぶたの人: a person with single eyelids
- 一重まぶたから二重になる: to go from single to double eyelids
- 一重まぶた向けのメイク: makeup designed for single eyelids
- 一重まぶたを活かす: to make the most of single eyelids
Similar words
Related Words
Compare:
二重まぶた (double eyelid)
Compare:
奥二重 (hidden double eyelid)
Compare:
目元 (the area around the eyes)