N1 Appearance, Manner, and Resemblance

~まみれ: meaning, usage and examples

~まみれ means: covered in... (negative, messy).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 子供こどもたちは、公園こうえんで遊あそんで泥どろまみれになった。

   The children played in the park and got covered in mud.

2. 彼かれは、借金しゃっきんまみれの生活せいかつから抜ぬけ出だせないでいる。

   He still can't escape a life buried in debt.

3. 一日中いちにちじゅう外そとで作業さぎょうをして、シャツが汗あせまみれになった。

   After working outside all day, my shirt was soaked with sweat.

4. 倉庫そうこの奥おくから、ほこりまみれの古ふるいアルバムが出でてきた。

   A dusty old photo album turned up at the back of the storeroom.

When to use it

Covered all over in something messy or unpleasant that sticks to the surface: 泥どろまみれ (covered in mud), 汗あせまみれ, 血ちまみれ, ほこりまみれ. Also used figuratively for things that weigh a person down, such as debt or scandal: 借金しゃっきんまみれ. Example: 泥どろまみれになった, got covered in mud after playing outside.

Nuance

Negative or at least messy. Works for liquids, powders and dirt that cling to a surface. Everyday and written use. Not used for neutral or pleasant things, or for many separate objects.

Compare

だらけ means full of many things, often scattered: 間違まちがいだらけ (full of mistakes), 傷きずだらけ. まみれ means coated in a substance: 油あぶらまみれの手て. ずくめ means made entirely of something, can be positive: 黒くろずくめ, いいことずくめ. 間違まちがいまみれ is wrong; 間違まちがいだらけ is right.

Tip: Ask "is it smeared on the surface?" Mud, sweat, blood, dust, oil: まみれ. Mistakes, holes, scratches: だらけ.