Refers to the surface quality or feel of materials like cloth, paper, wood, or leather.
This paper has a very smooth texture.
I like furniture that makes the most of the wood grain.
bare skin; natural skin; scalp
Used for skin without makeup, covering, or hair; also specifically the scalp when discussing hair or skin condition.
Her bare skin without makeup was surprisingly beautiful.
My scalp is dry and itchy.
bare ground; surface of the earth
Describes ground with no covering such as grass, snow, or pavement; often used in contexts like gardening or landscaping.
The snow melted and the bare ground became visible.
surface of a sword blade
Technical term for the visible surface of a Japanese sword blade, often discussed in relation to forging patterns or polish.
A beautiful forging pattern appears on the surface of the sword blade.
My hair has thinned so much that my scalp is showing through.
The snow melted and the bare ground was exposed.
This shampoo is made with ingredients that are gentle on the scalp.
The strong perm solution irritated my scalp.
表面 is a neutral word for the 'surface' of any object, whereas 地肌 specifically points to the natural, uncovered texture or grain of that surface.
頭皮 is the precise medical/cosmetic term for the scalp, while 地肌 is the everyday word that can mean scalp or any bare skin.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
Rare variant using 膚 for skin; not commonly used.
Compound of 地 (ji, 'ground, base, natural state') and 肌 (hada, 'skin, surface'). The reading じはだ is a standard rendaku form.