noun
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).
寒くて鳥肌が立った。
I got goosebumps from the cold.
感動して鳥肌が止まらなかった。
I was so moved I couldn't stop getting goosebumps.
noun
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.
冬になると肌が鳥肌のように荒れる。
In winter, my skin gets rough like gooseflesh.
肌荒れ is the common word for rough or chapped skin, while 鳥肌 in the rough-skin sense is more literal and less frequent.
Compound of 鳥 (bird) and 肌 (skin), literally 'bird skin', from the resemblance of goosebumps to the skin of a plucked bird.