Meaning
This word refers to the skin, the outer covering of the human or animal body. It combines the characters for 'skin/leather' and 'skin/surface,' emphasizing the body's protective outer layer. It's commonly used in medical, cosmetic, and everyday contexts when discussing skin health, appearance, or conditions.
Usage
Native speakers use 皮肤 in both formal medical settings and casual conversations about skincare, complexion, or skin problems. It frequently appears with adjectives describing skin quality (好 hǎo 'good', 差 chà 'bad', 白 bái 'fair', 黑 hēi 'dark') and in the skincare industry. The word is used for both human and animal skin, though 皮 alone is more common for animal hides or leather.
Examples
- 01她的皮肤很好，看起来很健康。, .Her skin is very good and looks healthy.
- 02我需要买一些护肤品来保护我的皮肤。.I need to buy some skincare products to protect my skin.
Characters
Common collocations
- 皮肤病skin disease
- 保护皮肤to protect the skin
- 皮肤科dermatology department
- 敏感皮肤sensitive skin
Origin
Both characters relate to skin: 皮 originally depicted an animal hide being peeled, while 肤 (traditional 膚) combines the flesh radical 月 with a phonetic component, specifically referring to body skin.