皮膚

• Reading: ひふ
• Romaji: hifu
• Kanji breakdown: 皮 (hi) — skin, hide; 膚 (fu) — skin, surface
• Pronunciation: /çi.ɸɯ/

Meaning

Skin. The outer covering of the human body.

A formal/medical term for skin. In everyday speech, 肌 (はだ) is more commonly used for skin in beauty and daily contexts, while 皮膚 is preferred in medical contexts. Common compound: 皮膚科 (dermatology department).

Examples

1. 日焼けで皮膚が赤くなりました。 My skin turned red from the sunburn.
2. 皮膚科に行ってアレルギーの薬をもらった。 I went to the dermatologist and got allergy medication.
3. 冬は皮膚が乾燥しやすいです。 Skin tends to get dry in winter.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, dermatology, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 皮 (skin, hide) and 膚 (skin, surface). Both characters relate to the outer covering, with 膚 specifically referring to human skin.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal