1.
bare skin; natural skin (without makeup)
The natural, uncovered state of one's skin, especially the face without makeup or the body without clothing.
化粧を落として地肌を見せた。
She removed her makeup and showed her bare skin.
地肌がきれいな人がうらやましい。
I envy people with beautiful natural skin.
日焼け止めを塗って地肌を守る。
I apply sunscreen to protect my bare skin.
2.
scalp (visible through hair)
The skin of the head, especially when visible through thinning hair.
髪が薄くなって地肌が見えてきた。
My hair has thinned and my scalp is starting to show.
このシャンプーは地肌にやさしい。
This shampoo is gentle on the scalp.
地肌のマッサージで血行をよくする。
Scalp massage improves blood circulation.
3.
natural surface; bare ground; underlying texture
The natural surface of materials like wood, stone, or the ground when exposed, without paint, covering, or vegetation.
塗装が剥がれて木の地肌が出ている。
The paint has peeled off, exposing the bare wood surface.
雪が溶けて地肌が見え始めた。
The snow melted and the bare ground began to show.
古い壁の地肌をそのまま生かしたデザインが人気だ。
Designs that make use of the bare texture of old walls are popular.
A versatile word describing any natural, exposed surface. The scalp sense is particularly common in hair care and beauty products.
FORMATION:
地 (ground, base, natural) + 肌 (skin, surface)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 地肌が見える: the bare surface/scalp is visible
- 地肌にやさしい: gentle on the skin/scalp
- 地肌ケア: scalp/skin care
- 地肌を生かす: to make use of the natural texture
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 素肌: bare skin (especially face/body without makeup) — overlaps with sense 1 but more commonly used for beauty contexts
- 頭皮: scalp — medical/clinical term, while 地肌 is everyday language
- 地: the base, natural state — broader meaning