岩肌(いわはだ)

いわはだ
noun
rock face; bare rock surface
naturegeography
1. rock face; bare rock surface
The exposed surface of a rock or cliff, especially where soil and vegetation have been worn away. Often used poetically to describe the texture or appearance of mountains.
岩肌(いわはだ)が見(み)えている。
The bare rock surface is showing.
雨(あめ)で岩肌(いわはだ)が黒(くろ)く光(ひか)っていた。
The rock face was shining black from the rain.
山(やま)の頂上(ちょうじょう)付近(ふきん)は木(き)が少(すく)なく、岩肌(いわはだ)がむき出(だ)しになっている。
Near the mountain summit there are few trees, and the bare rock is exposed.

Compound of 岩(いわ) (rock) + 肌(はだ) (skin, surface). The metaphor of "rock skin" treats the rock's outer surface as its skin.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 岩場(いわば): rocky area — refers to a place, not a surface
  • 岩壁(がんぺき): rock wall — a vertical cliff face, often used in climbing
  • 地肌(じはだ): bare ground; bare scalp — the same 肌(はだ) metaphor applied to soil or skin

Related Words

Compare: 岩場(いわば) (rocky area)
Compare: 地肌(じはだ) (bare ground)
Related: 岩山(いわやま) (rocky mountain)
general
Added 2026.5.13 8:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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