目錄
The Japanese expression “〜まみれ” describes a person or object being heavily covered with or smeared in something. It can also describe someone being overwhelmed by problems such as debt or lies, as though those problems were dirt that could not be washed away.
Expressions such as 泥まみれ, 汗まみれ and ほこりまみれ do not usually mean that only a small amount of mud, sweat or dust is present. They create an image of something being covered across a large area, often with an added sense of discomfort, dirtiness or embarrassment.
At first glance, “〜まみれ,” “〜だらけ” and “〜ずくめ” can all be translated as “full of” or “covered in.” However, each expression focuses on something different. Before relying on the English translation, check whether the sentence describes something adhering to a surface, appearing in many places or forming a completely uniform whole.
What Does “〜まみれ” Mean in Japanese? From Physical Coverage to Abstract Problems
“〜まみれ” follows a noun and indicates that a person or object is heavily covered, stained or contaminated by something. It can also describe being trapped in a negative condition that is difficult to escape.
Depending on the context, it may be translated as:
- covered in
- smeared with
- full of
- drenched in
- riddled with
- burdened by
Its physical uses are the easiest to understand. Mud may cover clothing, sweat may soak the body, or dust may coat an object. These substances can physically touch and adhere to a surface, often creating an immediate impression of dirtiness, stickiness, dampness or discomfort.
Its abstract uses preserve the same imagery.
借金まみれ does not mean that debt is literally attached to someone’s body. It means that debt affects nearly every part of the person’s life.
Similarly, 嘘まみれ does not simply mean that there are many lies. It suggests that the entire statement, story or situation has been contaminated by dishonesty.
How to Form “〜まみれ”: What Can Follow the Noun?
“〜まみれ” attaches only to nouns. It cannot directly follow a verb or an adjective.
The noun is usually a substance that can adhere to a surface, or an abstract negative issue that can be imagined as surrounding or contaminating someone.
“〜まみれ” may be followed by だ or になる, used before another noun with の, or connected to another action or state with で.
| Structure | Main Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun＋まみれだ | Describes a current state | シャツが汗まみれだ |
| Noun＋まみれになる | Describes becoming covered in something | 靴が泥まみれになる |
| Noun＋まみれの＋Noun | Modifies a person or object | ほこりまみれの机 |
| Noun＋まみれで＋Verb | Performs an action while in that state | 汗まみれで走る |
| Noun＋まみれになっている | Describes an established condition | 床が油まみれになっている |
Common physical nouns include:
- 泥まみれ: covered in mud
- 汗まみれ: drenched in sweat
- 血まみれ: covered in blood
- 油まみれ: covered in oil or grease
- ほこりまみれ: covered in dust
Common abstract nouns include:
- 借金まみれ: burdened with debt
- 嘘まみれ: full of lies
- 言い訳まみれ: full of excuses
- 汚職まみれ: riddled with corruption
- 欲まみれ: consumed by desire or greed
How Is “〜まみれ” Used? Two Core Meanings and a Common Modifying Form
The basic image behind “〜まみれ” is that something adheres to or covers a surface. This image is then extended to abstract problems.
First identify what is covering the person or object. Then determine whether the sentence describes a physical condition, an abstract difficulty or the visible state of a noun.
Usage 1: Describing a Body or Object Covered in Mud, Sweat, Oil or Another Substance
This is the most typical use of “〜まみれ.”
The noun before it is usually something that can physically touch the skin, clothing or the surface of an object. The quantity is large enough to create obvious coverage.
泥がついている only means that some mud is attached.
泥まみれだ, by contrast, creates the image of trousers, shoes, hands or legs being extensively covered and dirtied by mud. The visual intensity is much stronger.
Example:
雨の中で試合を続けた選手たちは、泥まみれになっていました。
假名： あめのなかでしあいをつづけたせんしゅたちは、どろまみれになっていました。
Translation: The players who continued the match in the rain were covered in mud.
The mud is not limited to one small area. It covers a large part of their clothing and bodies.
Example:
真夏に二時間歩いたら、シャツが汗まみれになりました。
假名： まなつににじかんあるいたら、シャツがあせまみれになりました。
Translation: After walking for two hours in the middle of summer, my shirt was drenched in sweat.
汗まみれ suggests that the clothing feels wet and sticky. It describes more than simply sweating.
Example:
自転車を修理していたら、両手が油まみれになりました。
假名： じてんしゃをしゅうりしていたら、りょうてがあぶらまみれになりました。
Translation: My hands became covered in grease while I was repairing my bicycle.
The oil adheres to the surface of the hands and is difficult to wash off, making it a natural match for the clinging quality of “〜まみれ.”
Usage 2: Describing Someone Overwhelmed by Debt, Lies, Excuses or Other Problems
“〜まみれ” can also follow abstract nouns, but it is generally used only with negative content.
The speaker imagines debt, lies or mistakes as dirt that surrounds or contaminates a person, a life or a piece of content.
This use carries strong criticism.
嘘が多い simply means that there are many lies.
嘘まみれだ suggests that the entire thing is unreliable and that almost no truthful or “clean” part remains.
Example:
彼は借金まみれの生活から抜け出そうとしています。
假名： かれはしゃっきんまみれのせいかつからぬけだそうとしています。
Translation: He is trying to escape a life burdened by debt.
Debt affects many parts of his life, so it is described as something that covers him and cannot easily be removed.
Example:
その記事は嘘まみれで、事実を確認する必要があります。
假名： そのきじはうそまみれで、じじつをかくにんするひつようがあります。
Translation: That article is full of lies, so its claims need to be fact-checked.
This does not mean that the article contains only one or two mistakes. It is a severe criticism of the article’s overall credibility.
Example:
言い訳まみれの謝罪では、相手の信頼は戻りません。
假名： いいわけまみれのしゃざいでは、あいてのしんらいはもどりません。
Translation: An apology full of excuses will not restore the other person’s trust.
The apology is so crowded with excuses that any genuine acceptance of responsibility becomes difficult to see.
Usage 3: Using “〜まみれの” to Describe the Immediate Appearance of a Person or Object
The structure “〜まみれの＋noun” places the covered or contaminated state directly before a person or object.
It is common in novels, news reports, television dialogue and descriptions of a scene. This structure is particularly effective for creating a strong image quickly.
汗まみれのシャツ immediately suggests a shirt soaked with sweat.
ほこりまみれの棚 suggests a shelf that has not been cleaned for a long time.
Example:
汗まみれのシャツを脱いで、すぐにシャワーを浴びました。
假名： あせまみれのシャツをぬいで、すぐにシャワーをあびました。
Translation: I took off my sweat-soaked shirt and immediately took a shower.
汗まみれの directly describes the shirt’s damp and sticky condition. It is commonly used after exercise or in very hot weather.
Example:
ほこりまみれの棚から、古い旅行雑誌が出てきました。
假名： ほこりまみれのたなから、ふるいりょこうざっしがでてきました。
Translation: I found some old travel magazines on a shelf covered in dust.
The dust coats the shelf and also suggests that the magazines have not been touched for a long time.
Example:
泥まみれの靴のまま、部屋に入らないでください。
假名： どろまみれのくつのまま、へやにはいらないでください。
Translation: Please do not enter the room while wearing shoes covered in mud.
A large amount of mud is attached to the soles and surface of the shoes and may dirty the floor.
Complete Comparison: “〜まみれ,” “〜だらけ” and “〜ずくめ”
All three expressions may be translated as “full of” or “covered in,” but they create different images.
“〜まみれ” suggests that mud, sweat, oil or another substance is clinging to and covering a surface.
“〜だらけ” indicates that something is present in many different places, or that problems appear one after another.
“〜ずくめ” means that the entire appearance, experience or situation consists uniformly of the same type of thing.
| Point of Comparison | 〜まみれ | 〜だらけ | 〜ずくめ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic image | Something heavily adhering to or covering a surface | Something existing in many places | The whole thing consists of the same type of content |
| Main focus | Surface coverage, contamination or entanglement | Distribution, large quantity or many problems | Entirely, uniformly, from beginning to end |
| Negative tendency | Very strong | Usually negative | Can be positive or negative |
| Common nouns | Mud, sweat, blood, oil, dust, debt | Mistakes, injuries, holes, rubbish, defects | Black, white, good things, rules |
| Physical adherence | Very strong | Not necessarily present | None |
| Positive use | Rare in standard usage | Generally uncommon | Very common |
| Typical example | 泥まみれの靴 | 間違いだらけの作文 | 黒ずくめの服装 |
What Is the Difference Between “〜まみれ” and “〜だらけ”? Adherence Versus Distribution
“〜まみれ” focuses on whether something is attached to a surface.
“〜だらけ” focuses on whether something or some problem exists in many different places.
Mud, sweat, blood and oil can physically adhere, so they commonly appear with “〜まみれ.”
Mistakes, wounds, rubbish and holes generally appear separately in different locations, so they are commonly used with “〜だらけ.”
Example:
靴が泥まみれになりました。
假名： くつがどろまみれになりました。
Translation: My shoes became covered in mud.
The mud adheres to the surface of the shoes, making “〜まみれ” natural.
Example:
この作文は間違いだらけです。
假名： このさくぶんはまちがいだらけです。
Translation: This essay is full of mistakes.
The mistakes are scattered throughout the essay. There is no image of something coating a surface.
“傷” also normally takes “〜だらけ.”
✅ 傷だらけの腕
An arm covered in wounds or scars.
Individual wounds appear separately across the skin, rather than acting as a substance that covers it. For this reason, 傷まみれ is usually less natural than 傷だらけ.
Blood flowing from those wounds can cover the skin, however, so 血まみれ is completely natural.
Can You Use Both “ほこりまみれ” and “ほこりだらけ”?
Example:
棚がほこりまみれです。
假名： たながほこりまみれです。
Translation: The shelf is covered in dust.
The focus is on the dust coating the surface of the shelf.
Example:
部屋がほこりだらけです。
假名： へやがほこりだらけです。
Translation: The room is full of dust.
The focus is on dust being present in many different places throughout the room.
Both forms are possible, but the perspective is different.
部屋はほこりまみれだ is not necessarily incorrect. It can be used when the furniture and surfaces throughout the room seem to be coated with dust.
However, when simply describing a dirty room with dust everywhere, ほこりだらけ is usually more natural.
What Is the Difference Between “〜まみれ” and “〜ずくめ”? Dirty Coverage Versus Complete Uniformity
“〜ずくめ” does not have a sense of physical adherence.
It indicates that clothing, an experience or an entire situation consists completely of the same color, object or condition.
It may be used with both positive and negative content.
Example:
黒ずくめの男が店の前に立っていました。
假名： くろずくめのおとこがみせのまえにたっていました。
Translation: A man dressed entirely in black was standing in front of the shop.
His hat, shirt and trousers are all black. The focus is on the uniform color of his entire outfit, not on his body being covered in a black substance.
Example:
今年の旅行は、いいことずくめでした。
假名： ことしのりょこうは、いいことずくめでした。
Translation: This year’s trip was full of good things from beginning to end.
“〜ずくめ” can be used with positive content to indicate that everything was good.
Example:
規則ずくめの生活には疲れました。
假名： きそくずくめのせいかつにはつかれました。
Translation: I am tired of a life governed by rules at every turn.
Every aspect of life is controlled by rules. Although the tone is negative, there is no sense of anything adhering to a surface.
Is the Social Media Expression “幸せまみれ” Grammatically Incorrect?
In standard usage, “〜まみれ” tends to describe dirt, problems and negative conditions.
For this reason, いいことまみれ and 幸せまみれ are not suitable as neutral or formal expressions.
✅ いいことずくめの一年
A year full of good things.
✅ 幸せいっぱいの生活
A life filled with happiness.
However, expressions such as 幸せまみれ and かわいいものまみれ occasionally appear in social media posts, advertisements and casual conversation.
These are deliberately playful reversals of the normal negative tone of “〜まみれ.” The contrast creates a humorous, exaggerated or cute effect.
In formal writing or language examinations, “〜まみれ” should still be understood primarily as describing negative contamination or coverage.
Creative conversational uses depend on context and should not be automatically applied to every positive noun.
How Do You Choose Between “〜まみれ,” “〜だらけ” and “〜ずくめ” in the Same Situation?
The three patterns can describe very different conditions involving clothing or a room.
Example:
作業の後、服が油まみれになりました。
假名： さぎょうのあと、ふくがあぶらまみれになりました。
Translation: After the work was finished, my clothes were covered in grease.
The grease adheres to the surface of the clothing, can be touched and is difficult to wash out.
Example:
作業場には使い終わった布が散らばり、ゴミだらけでした。
假名： さぎょうばにはつかいおわったぬのがちらばり、ごみだらけでした。
Translation: Used cloths were scattered around the workplace, and rubbish was everywhere.
The rubbish is distributed throughout the space rather than adhering to one object.
Example:
作業員は全員、青ずくめの服装でした。
假名： さぎょういんはぜんいん、あおずくめのふくそうでした。
Translation: All the workers were dressed entirely in blue.
Their hats, shirts and trousers were all blue. The sentence describes a uniform overall color.
When choosing between the three patterns, ask these questions:
- Is something heavily adhering to a surface? Use “〜まみれ.”
- Is something or some problem distributed in many places? Use “〜だらけ.”
- Does the entire thing consist uniformly of the same type of content? Use “〜ずくめ.”
Practical Japanese for Travel: Using “〜まみれ” for Rainy Days, Summer and Dusty Rooms
When traveling, expressions such as 泥まみれ, 砂まみれ and 汗まみれ are useful after walking on a rainy trail, spending time at the beach or attending a summer festival.
These expressions are more vivid than simply saying 汚れた or 汗をかいた. They describe clothing or a body that has been extensively dirtied or soaked by mud, sand or sweat.
“〜まみれ” carries a clear evaluation. It is generally fine to use it to describe your own condition.
Using it directly to describe a stranger as covered in sweat or dust, however, may sound impolite.
Situation 1: Finishing an Outdoor Trail After Rain
When shoes and trouser legs are heavily dirtied by mud, 泥まみれ is natural.
A: 雨の後だから、道がかなりぬかるんでいましたね。
あめのあとだから、みちがかなりぬかるんでいましたね。
The path was extremely muddy because it had just rained.
B: 靴が泥まみれになってしまいました。
くつがどろまみれになってしまいました。
My shoes ended up completely covered in mud.
📌 Grammar point: “〜てしまいました” adds the feeling that something undesirable has already happened. It works naturally with the messy image created by 泥まみれ.
Situation 2: Visiting an Outdoor Market in Summer
When you have sweated heavily and your clothes are soaked, 汗まみれ can be used.
A: 今日は本当に暑かったですね。
きょうはほんとうにあつかったですね。
It was really hot today.
B: 二時間も歩いたので、もう汗まみれです。
にじかんもあるいたので、もうあせまみれです。
I have been walking for two hours, so I am already drenched in sweat.
📌 Grammar point: 汗まみれ does not merely mean that someone is sweating. It suggests enough sweat to make the clothing and body feel damp and sticky.
Situation 3: Cleaning an Old Storage Room at a Guesthouse
Objects that have not been cleaned for a long time are often coated in dust. In this situation, ほこりまみれ is appropriate.
A: この箱はずいぶん古そうですね。
このはこはずいぶんふるそうですね。
This box looks very old.
B: ほこりまみれなので、外で開けたほうがよさそうです。
ほこりまみれなので、そとであけたほうがよさそうです。
It is covered in dust, so it would probably be better to open it outside.
📌 Grammar point: The dust directly coats the surface of the box, so “〜まみれ” creates a more specific image than simply saying ほこりが多い.
Cultural Notes
Japanese television dramas, novels and news headlines often use “〜まみれ” to create an intense image quickly. Common examples include 血まみれ, 泥まみれ and 借金まみれ.
These expressions already imply that the condition is serious.
“〜まみれになっちゃった” and “〜まみれになってしまった” also appear frequently.
The first is more conversational, while the second is more complete and neutral. Both can express an undesirable result that has already occurred.
Describing yourself as 汗まみれだ usually only reports your present condition.
Saying 汗まみれですね directly to someone you do not know well may sound like a negative comment about their appearance or cleanliness, so the relationship between speakers matters.
Comparing Japanese “〜まみれ” with Korean “투성이” and “범벅”
The Korean expressions “투성이” and “범벅” can both mean “full of” or “covered in,” but their functions are not identical.
“투성이” indicates that many negative things are present throughout a person, object or piece of content.
It can follow words relating to mud, mistakes, lies and excuses. Its range is similar to the Japanese “〜だらけ,” although in some situations it can also correspond to “〜まみれ.”
“범벅” places more emphasis on things being mixed together, smeared everywhere or leaving someone’s body covered in sweat, mud or blood.
When the image involves obvious wetness, stickiness or physical coverage, it is often closer to the Japanese “〜まみれ” than “투성이” is.
Example:
진흙투성이가 된 신발을 씻었어요.
Romanization: jin-heuk-tu-seong-i-ga doen sin-bal-eul ssi-seo-sseo-yo.
Translation: I washed the shoes that were covered in mud.
진흙투성이 describes shoes that have been made very dirty by mud and creates an image similar to 泥まみれ.
Example:
땀범벅이 된 채로 숙소에 돌아왔어요.
Romanization: ttam-beom-beo-gi doen chae-ro suk-so-e do-ra-wa-sseo-yo.
Translation: I returned to my accommodation drenched in sweat.
땀범벅 creates the impression of being soaked and sticky with sweat, making it very close to 汗まみれ.
Example:
그 보고서는 거짓말투성이였어요.
Romanization: geu bo-go-seo-neun geo-jin-mal-tu-seong-i-yeo-sseo-yo.
Translation: That report was full of lies.
거짓말투성이 criticizes the report for containing false information throughout. Its abstract use is similar to 嘘まみれ.
◆ Difference from the Japanese “〜まみれ”:
Japanese “〜まみれ” is particularly sensitive to the image of something adhering to a surface. It commonly follows mud, sweat, oil, dust and similar substances.
Korean “투성이” has a broader range and can describe not only dirt, but also mistakes, faults and excuses appearing everywhere.
Korean “범벅” is closer to a state in which liquid, mud or a mixture has been smeared all over something.
When translating 汗まみれ or 血まみれ, expressions such as 땀범벅 and 피범벅 often create a more vivid equivalent.
“〜まみれ” most commonly describes mud, sweat, blood, oil or dust adhering to a surface. It can also portray debt, lies and excuses as contamination that is difficult to remove.
When encountering the English expression “full of,” first determine whether the sentence describes surface coverage, distribution in many places or complete uniformity.
“〜まみれ,” “〜だらけ” and “〜ずくめ” sometimes overlap, but they represent different perspectives.
Positive combinations such as 幸せまみれ are best reserved for social media or playful conversation. In ordinary writing, contamination, difficulty and negative evaluation remain the basic meanings of “〜まみれ.”
Frequently Asked Questions
“〜まみれ” indicates that a person or object is heavily covered or stained with something.
It is commonly translated as “covered in,” “smeared with,” “drenched in” or “full of.”
It most often follows substances that can adhere to a surface, such as mud, sweat, blood, oil and dust.
It can also be extended to abstract negative things such as debt, lies and excuses.
“〜まみれ” attaches only to nouns.
Common structures include:
泥まみれだ
汗まみれになる
ほこりまみれの箱
油まみれで作業する
Verbs and adjectives cannot directly precede “〜まみれ.”
To describe the result of an action, first identify the substance that has attached to the person or object.
For example, 汗をかいた can be expressed more vividly as 汗まみれになった.
“〜まみれ” emphasizes that something heavily adheres to a surface.
“〜だらけ” indicates that something or some problem is distributed in many different places.
Shoes covered in mud are described as 泥まみれ.
An essay containing mistakes throughout is described as 間違いだらけ.
Some nouns can take either expression, including dust.
ほこりまみれの棚 focuses on dust coating the surface of a shelf.
ほこりだらけの部屋 focuses on dust appearing throughout the room.
傷だらけ is generally more natural.
Wounds appear individually across the body, matching the distributed quality of “〜だらけ.”
血まみれ is natural because blood can flow and spread across the skin or clothing.
When choosing the pattern, consider whether the noun refers to separate items or to a substance covering a surface.
“〜まみれ” describes being covered in dirt or surrounded by negative problems.
“〜ずくめ” indicates that an entire appearance or situation consists of the same type of content.
泥まみれの服 means clothing covered in mud.
黒ずくめの服装 means an outfit in which the hat, shirt and trousers are all black.
“〜ずくめ” can be used positively, as in いいことずくめ.
The standard use of “〜まみれ” is predominantly negative.
These expressions sometimes appear in casual speech, social media posts and advertisements.
They deliberately combine the normally negative “〜まみれ” with a positive noun to create a cute, exaggerated or humorous contrast.
They are not recommended in formal writing, JLPT questions or neutral explanations.
To naturally express a life filled with happiness, use 幸せいっぱい.
To say that something consisted entirely of good experiences, use いいことずくめ.
Not necessarily.
If the furniture, floor and objects throughout the room are coated with dust, ほこりまみれ can be used.
If the sentence simply means that dust is present in many places throughout the room, ほこりだらけ is usually more natural.
The difference is not strictly grammatical. It concerns whether the speaker views the dust as coating surfaces or being distributed throughout a space.
Yes, but these are usually negative abstract nouns.
Common examples include:
借金まみれ
嘘まみれ
言い訳まみれ
汚職まみれ
These expressions imagine the problem as dirt that adheres to a person or contaminates the whole situation.
Their tone is stronger and more critical than simply saying 借金が多い or 嘘が多い.
“〜まみれ” creates an image of dirtiness, discomfort or a seriously negative condition.
It is generally fine to describe your own shoes as covered in mud or yourself as drenched in sweat.
Directly saying 汗まみれですね or ほこりまみれですね to someone you do not know well may sound like criticism of their appearance or hygiene.
A more neutral expression may be better, such as:
汗をかいています
少しほこりがついています
Many JLPT materials classify “〜まみれ” as an N1 grammar pattern, although classifications may vary between textbooks.
Test questions often require learners to distinguish between “〜まみれ,” “〜だらけ” and “〜ずくめ.”
Do not rely only on the English translation.
Check whether the noun refers to something adhering to a surface, appearing in many places or forming a completely uniform whole.