goosebumps; gooseflesh
Refers to the bumpy skin condition caused by cold, fear, or strong emotion. Often used in the phrase 鳥肌が立つ (to get goosebumps).
I got goosebumps from the cold.
That scary story gave me goosebumps.
感動して鳥肌が止まらなかった。
I was so moved I couldn't stop getting goosebumps.
rough skin; coarse skin
Literally 'bird skin', used to describe skin that is rough or bumpy like a plucked bird. Less common than the goosebumps sense; often replaced by 肌荒れ or ざらざらした肌 in modern conversation.
In winter, my skin gets rough like gooseflesh.
That live performance was absolutely goosebump-inducing.
get goosebumps · get chills; be deeply moved
Standard kanji spelling; widely used in news and everyday writing.
Rarely used kanji form; learners will almost always encounter 鳥肌.
Compound of 鳥 (bird) and 肌 (skin), literally 'bird skin', from the resemblance of goosebumps to the skin of a plucked bird.