1.
cheekbone (zygomatic bone)
The bony prominence in the upper part of the cheek, beneath the outer corner of the eye. Often referenced when describing facial features, anatomy, or the effects of aging or weight loss.
Perhaps because he lost weight rapidly, his cheekbones now stand out more than before.
Composed of 頬 ('cheek') + 骨 ('bone'), with rendaku turning ほね into ぼね. The reading ほおぼね (with おお) is also acceptable and reflects the alternative pronunciation of 頬 for cheek.
Usage
- Used in everyday descriptions of faces, in beauty/cosmetics contexts, and in medical contexts (fractures, surgery, dental anesthesia).
- The medical/technical term is 頬骨 (zygomatic bone), used in anatomy, surgery, and orthodontics. Both readings refer to the same bone, but ほほぼね is the colloquial term.
- Often appears in descriptions of facial structure: 'high cheekbones' is a feature commented on in modeling, fashion, and ethnographic descriptions.
Common collocations
- 頬骨が高い: to have high cheekbones
- 頬骨が張る: cheekbones to be prominent / to stick out
- 頬骨が出る: cheekbones to protrude (often from weight loss)
- 頬骨を打つ: to hit one's cheekbone
- 頬骨骨折: cheekbone fracture
- 頬骨が目立つ: cheekbones to stand out
Similar words
- 頬・頬: cheek — the soft tissue of the cheek itself, not the underlying bone.
- 頬骨: zygomatic bone — the medical/anatomical reading of the same kanji compound.
- 顎: jaw; chin — the lower part of the face; sometimes confused in casual descriptions but anatomically distinct.
- こめかみ: temple — the side of the head between the eye and the ear; close to but separate from the cheekbone.
- えら: jawline; angle of the jaw — the rear, lower part of the cheek/jaw, important when describing face shape.