N1 Appearance, Manner, and Resemblance

~ずくめ: meaning, usage and examples

~ずくめ means: entirely... / completely... / covered in...

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

Examples

1. 黒くろずくめの男おとこが、暗闇くらやみに消きえた。

   A man dressed entirely in black disappeared into the darkness.

2. 今日きょうは朝あさからいいことずくめで、とても幸しあわせだ。

   It's been one good thing after another since this morning; I'm so happy.

3. 規則きそくずくめの寮りょう生活せいかつに、最初さいしょは息いきが詰つまりそうだった。

   At first, I felt suffocated by dorm life, which was nothing but rules.

4. 今年ことしの大会たいかいは、雨あめによる延期えんきや会場かいじょうの変更へんこうなど異例いれいずくめだった。

   This year's tournament was full of unusual events, from rain delays to a change of venue.

When to use it

Says that something is full of, or entirely made up of, X: 黒くろずくめ (all in black), いいことずくめ (nothing but good things), 規則きそくずくめ (rules everywhere), 異例いれいずくめ (one unusual thing after another). It describes the whole situation, outfit or period as being covered with one quality.

Nuance

Used in speech and writing. It attaches only to a limited set of nouns: colors (mainly 黒くろ, 白しろ), いいこと, ごちそう, 規則きそく, 異例いれい, 結構けっこう. It can be positive (いいことずくめ) or negative (規則きそくずくめ). It is not used for physical dirt or concrete objects like 泥どろ.

Compare

だらけ means "covered in", usually with something unpleasant or physical: 泥どろだらけ, 間違まちがいだらけ. ずくめ is about a whole situation full of one quality, often good: いいことずくめ. Compare まみれ, physical coating with liquid or dirt: 汗あせまみれ. You can say 間違まちがいだらけ but not 間違まちがいずくめ.

Tip: Learn three set words: 黒くろずくめ, いいことずくめ and 規則きそくずくめ. For dirt, mud and mistakes, use だらけ instead of ずくめ.