Japanese word

皮膚

Pronunciation

Romajihifu

Meaning

  • nounskin

Example

冬は皮膚が乾燥します。fuyu wa hi fu ga kan sō shi ma su

My skin gets dry in winter.

Illustration for 皮膚 (skin)

More examples

日光から皮膚を守るために、帽子をかぶります。nik kō ka ra hi fu o mamo ru ta me ni bō shi o ka bu ri ma su

I wear a hat to protect my skin from the sun.

Core concept

Describes the body's outer covering as a protective boundary between the inside and the outside.

Common phrases

  • 皮膚の乾燥hi fu no kan sō

    dry skin

  • 皮膚を守るhi fu o mamo ru

    protect the skin

  • 皮膚の状態hi fu no jō tai

    skin condition

Similar words

肌hada: An everyday word for the skin of a person's body.

Definition in Japanese

体の表面を覆い、外部から内部を守る器官。karada no hyō men o ō i gai bu ka ra nai bu o mamo ru ki kan

Word origin

皮 (hi, "skin") + 膚 (fu, "skin") forms a Sino-Japanese compound for the body's outer covering.

Usage tips

  • The word 皮膚 (hifu) sounds more formal and medical than 肌 (hada), which is often used for a person's skin in everyday conversation.

Word lists with this word