Translation guide
Describes skin that is not smooth, often due to dryness, irritation, or texture. Japanese has several common expressions depending on the cause and nuance.
Skin that feels rough due to lack of moisture, often in winter or from dryness.
Common onomatopoeic phrase for dry, rough skin that may be flaky or scaly. Often used for hands, face, or body.
冬は肌がカサカサして困る。
My skin gets rough and dry in winter, and it bothers me.
My hands were rough and dry, so I put on hand cream.
Literally 'dry skin', a common term for skin that lacks moisture. Often used in skincare contexts.
乾燥肌用の化粧水を探しています。
I'm looking for a toner for dry skin.
General phrase for skin becoming rough or irritated, often due to dryness, allergies, or environmental factors.
季節の変わり目は肌が荒れやすい。
My skin tends to get rough during seasonal changes.
Skin that feels coarse or bumpy, like sandpaper, often due to calluses or lack of care.
Onomatopoeic phrase for a rough, gritty texture. Often used for hands, elbows, or heels.
かかとがザラザラしてきたので、軽石でこすった。
My heels got rough, so I scrubbed them with a pumice stone.
Noun meaning rough skin, skin trouble, or irritation. Can refer to dryness, acne, or other texture issues.
肌荒れがひどくて、メイクのノリが悪い。
My skin is so rough that my makeup doesn't go on smoothly.
Onomatopoeic for skin that feels stiff, thick, or rough, often from sun damage or aging.
日焼けのあと、肌がゴワゴワになった。
After sunburn, my skin became rough and leathery.
Skin that is rough due to a skin condition, allergy, or irritation, often red or itchy.
Means skin becomes irritated or develops a rash, often from contact with something (allergen, chemical, etc.).
新しい化粧品で肌がかぶれてしまった。
My skin got irritated from the new cosmetics.
Medical term for eczema or rash, often causing rough, itchy skin.
湿疹ができて、肌がボロボロです。
I have eczema, and my skin is all rough and flaky.
Describes skin that is raw, inflamed, or ulcerated. Stronger and more serious than かぶれる.
やけどで肌がただれてしまった。
My skin became raw and inflamed from the burn.
カサカサ is for dry, flaky skin (like paper). ザラザラ is for a gritty, sandy texture (like sandpaper). ゴワゴワ is for thick, stiff, leathery skin. Choose based on the texture you want to describe.
唇がカサカサだ。
My lips are dry and chapped.
手のひらがザラザラしている。
My palms are rough and gritty.
ひじがゴワゴワになった。
My elbows became rough and thick.
The direct translation '粗い肌 (あらいはだ)' is not commonly used in natural Japanese. It may sound like 'coarse skin' in a geological sense. Use the phrases above instead.