たれ目（たれめ、tareme）
- drooping eyes

The Japanese word たれ目 (たれ目, pronounced "tareme") refers to eyes that appear to droop or slant downwards at the outer corners. The term describes the shape or appearance of the eyes, not necessarily the overall expression of the person. It's often associated with a gentle, cute, or approachable look. The “tare” (垂れ) part comes from the verb 垂れる, which means "to hang down" or "to droop." The "me" (目) means "eye." So, literally, it means "drooping eyes."

⚫︎ 彼女はたれ目で、とても可愛らしいです。 Translation: She has droopy eyes and is very cute. ⚫︎ あの俳優のたれ目が、彼の優しさを強調している。 Translation: That actor's droopy eyes emphasize his kindness.

This word is used to describe the physical appearance of someone's eyes. It’s generally used in a descriptive and neutral way, but can sometimes be perceived as a compliment, especially when describing someone as cute or attractive. It's common in conversations about appearance, such as when talking about someone's features, or in discussions about anime or manga characters.

たれ目 is typically written in hiragana. Although the kanji would be 垂れ目, it is far more common to see it written in hiragana. There are no significant variations in okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms, as たれ目 specifically describes a particular eye shape. However, words that can be used to describe a similar visual effect or the overall impression created by たれ目 include: ⚫︎ 優しい目 (優しい目, yasashii me) - "Kind eyes" ⚫︎ 柔らかな印象 (やわらかな印象, yawarakana inshou) - "Gentle impression" ⚫︎ 垂れ下がった目 (たれさがった目, taresagatta me) - “Drooping eyes” However, it should be noted that the use of 垂れ下がった目 is less common than たれ目 itself.

The direct antonyms of たれ目 would describe eyes that slant upwards or have a more angular appearance. ⚫︎ つり目 (tsurime) - Eyes that slant upwards at the outer corners.

彼女はたれ目だから、いつも穏やかに見える。 ・Translation: Because she has droopy eyes, she always looks gentle. ・Explanation: This sentence describes how someone's droopy eyes contribute to their gentle appearance.

アニメのキャラクターで、たれ目の女の子は人気がある。 ・Translation: Droopy-eyed girls are popular in anime characters. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the usage of たれ目 when discussing character design in anime.

The etymology is straightforward. It is a compound word formed from the verb 垂れる (tareru, to hang down or droop) and the noun 目 (me, eye). The adjective form is formed by taking the stem of the verb and adding "me" (eye). Therefore, the word's origin directly reflects the physical characteristic it describes.