1.
sloping shoulders; drooping shoulders
Shoulders that slope downward rather than extending horizontally, giving a gentle, rounded silhouette. Named from the shape produced by stroking (撫でる) downward. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, sloping shoulders were considered graceful and feminine.
Compound of 撫で (stem of 撫でる, 'to stroke; to pet') and 肩 ('shoulder'). The image is of a shoulder line that curves gently downward as if stroked. In traditional Japanese culture, 撫で肩 was considered the ideal shoulder shape for women, as it suited kimono silhouettes beautifully.
Usage
- Used as a body-type descriptor, not as a compliment or insult
- Practical concern: people with 撫で肩 often have difficulty keeping bag straps in place
- Relevant in kimono fitting — 撫で肩 creates the smooth, flowing lines that kimono are designed for
Common collocations
- 撫で肩の人: a person with sloping shoulders
- 撫で肩で困る: to have trouble because of sloping shoulders
- 撫で肩に似合う服: clothes that suit sloping shoulders
Similar words
- 怒り肩: square shoulders; angular shoulders — the opposite; shoulders that jut out horizontally, giving a broad, angular silhouette
- 肩幅: shoulder width — measures the horizontal span of the shoulders rather than the angle
Related Words
Compare:
肩幅 (shoulder width)