noun
mountain surface; bare mountain face
Refers to the visible surface of a mountain, often emphasizing exposed rock, soil, or lack of vegetation. Common in descriptions of landscapes, erosion, or seasonal changes.
紅葉が山肌を赤く染めている。
The autumn leaves are dyeing the mountain surface red.
雨で山肌が削られ、土砂崩れが起きた。
The mountain surface was eroded by rain, causing a landslide.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 肌 (hada, 'skin'). The reading はだ is a rendaku form of はだ (hada). The kanji 膚 is an older variant of 肌, both meaning 'skin'.