〜まみれ
mamire
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
covered all over in … (mud, sweat, blood, dust)
〜まみれ attaches to a noun and means "covered all over with X", where X is an unpleasant substance that sticks to a surface: 泥まみれ (covered in mud), 汗まみれ (drenched in sweat), 血まみれ (bloodstained). Figuratively, 借金まみれ (drowning in debt).
Both speech and writing, neutral to vivid. Used for physical states after work, sport, accidents and for dirt (ほこりまみれ). Only liquids and fine particles that coat a surface work; for many objects scattered around, use だらけ.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + まみれ (泥・汗・血・ほこり・油・借金)N + まみれだ / まみれになる / まみれの + N
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Attaches to | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜まみれ | liquids, dust that coat a surface | sticky, dirty | 泥まみれ・汗まみれ |
| 〜だらけ | many objects or faults | full of, lots of | 間違いだらけ・傷だらけ |
| 〜ずくめ | all of one kind | nothing but | 黒ずくめ・いいことずくめ |
Natural examples
子供たちは泥まみれになって遊んでいた。
こどもたちはどろまみれになってあそんでいた。
The children were playing, covered in mud.
泥まみれになって: the mud coats the children.
彼は汗まみれの顔でゴールに飛び込んだ。
かれはあせまみれのかおでゴールにとびこんだ。
He dashed across the finish line, his face covered in sweat.
汗まみれの顔: adnominal use with の.
会社は借金まみれで、倒産寸前だった。
かいしゃはしゃっきんまみれで、とうさんすんぜんだった。
The company was drowning in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy.
借金まみれ: the figurative use for being buried in debt.
倉庫の棚は、長年放置されてほこりまみれだった。
そうこのたなは、ながねんほうちされてほこりまみれだった。
The warehouse shelves, left untouched for years, were covered in dust.
ほこり is a fine particle, so まみれ fits.
整備士は油まみれの手で、笑顔を見せた。
せいびしはあぶらまみれのてで、えがおをみせた。
The mechanic smiled with hands covered in oil.
油まみれ: grease coating the hands.
Similar grammar and the difference
"Full of" many countable things or faults (傷だらけ・間違いだらけ). まみれ is for a substance coating a surface. Compare side by side
"Entirely of one kind" (黒ずくめ・ごちそうずくめ); not about dirt at all. Compare side by side
"Left as is" (つけっぱなし); sometimes confused because both describe a neglected state. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 間違いまみれの作文
- ✓
- 間違いだらけの作文
- Why
- Mistakes are countable items scattered through the text; use だらけ.
- ✗
- 花まみれの庭
- ✓
- 花でいっぱいの庭
- Why
- まみれ implies something unpleasant sticking to a surface; flowers do not fit.
- ✗
- 汗だらけになった。
- ✓
- 汗まみれになった。
- Why
- Sweat is a liquid that coats the body, so まみれ is the natural choice.
The nouns are limited: 泥・汗・血・ほこり・油・砂・粉, plus figurative 借金・嘘 (rare). It always suggests dirtiness or exhaustion; there is no positive まみれ. Grammatically it works like a noun: まみれだ, まみれの, まみれになる.
JLPT N1 tips
On the exam
- If the noun is 泥・汗・血・ほこり and the state is dirty or exhausting, choose まみれ.
- The main distractor is だらけ; decide by whether the noun is a coating (まみれ) or countable items (だらけ).
- ずくめ appears alongside as a third option; it means "nothing but" and is not about dirt.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜まみれ mean?
covered all over in … (mud, sweat, blood, dust). 〜まみれ attaches to a noun and means "covered all over with X", where X is an unpleasant substance that sticks to a surface: 泥まみれ (covered in mud), 汗まみれ (drenched in sweat), 血まみれ (bloodstained). Figuratively, 借金まみれ (drowning in debt).
How do you form 〜まみれ?
N + まみれ (泥・汗・血・ほこり・油・借金) / N + まみれだ / まみれになる / まみれの + N. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜まみれ used?
Both speech and writing, neutral to vivid. Used for physical states after work, sport, accidents and for dirt (ほこりまみれ). Only liquids and fine particles that coat a surface work; for many objects scattered around, use だらけ.
What is the difference between 〜まみれ and 〜だらけ?
"Full of" many countable things or faults (傷だらけ・間違いだらけ). まみれ is for a substance coating a surface.
What is the difference between 〜まみれ and 〜ずくめ?
"Entirely of one kind" (黒ずくめ・ごちそうずくめ); not about dirt at all.
What is a common mistake with 〜まみれ?
Wrong: 間違いまみれの作文 Right: 間違いだらけの作文 Mistakes are countable items scattered through the text; use だらけ.
Quick check
工事現場から帰ってきた父は、全身ほこり（ ）だった。