まみれ means covered with; stained; smeared with ~. It is a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar pattern used to describe a surface or person that is completely, often messily, covered in an unpleasant substance.
This grammar point gives your descriptions a visual, sensory punch—think dirt crusted on skin, oil soaked into clothes, blood smeared across a scene. It’s common in both casual storytelling and formal writing, and if you want to paint a vivid picture of something thoroughly grimy, まみれ is the tool you need.
まみれ makes the messiness vivid—it’s not just “covered,” it’s smeared, stained, or crusted all over.
What does まみれ mean?
Use まみれ when a person, object, or surface is completely covered in a messy, often unpleasant substance. The pattern emphasizes the extent and the unsightly texture of the covering.
Natural translations include:
- covered with; stained with; smeared with; crusted with; all over ~
The best translation depends on what is clinging. If it’s liquid, “smeared with” or “soaked in” often fits. If it’s powder or dirt, “caked in” or “covered in” works better. Don’t think of it as a generic “full of” — it’s about a coating that sticks.
How to form まみれ
Attach まみれ directly to a noun — no particle, no の.
The resulting compound functions as a noun or な-adjective. You’ll often see it followed by になる or している:
The noun before まみれ is always the substance doing the coating — it has to be something that can stick, smear, or stain.
When is まみれ used?
Use まみれ when:
- a person or object is completely covered in a messy substance (mud, blood, sweat, oil, dust, flour, paint)
- you want to stress the visual and tactile impression — the stuff is all over, and it’s unpleasant
- the coating is the result of an action (playing in the dirt, an accident, hard work)
Tone and register:
- natural in spoken Japanese, but also common in written descriptions (novels, news reports)
- carries a negative or gritty nuance; you wouldn’t use it for a tidy covering (like “covered with stickers” → だらけ, not まみれ)
- often appears in fixed compounds like 血まみれ (blood-stained), 泥まみれ (mud-caked), 汗まみれ (drenched in sweat)
まみれ example sentences
After reading each sentence, notice how まみれ paints the state: it’s not just a little dirt—it’s everywhere, and it’s clinging.
Nuance of まみれ
The core nuance is that the substance is thoroughly coating the surface in a messy, unstoppable way. It’s not a light sprinkle; it’s a layer that stains, smears, or crusts.
This matters because other patterns like だらけ also mean “covered with,” but they lack the sticky, textural feel that まみれ carries. Think of a kid who has rolled in mud (まみれ) versus a floor covered with toys (だらけ). The first is about a coat of filth; the second is about many objects.
The emotional weight is discomfort, disgust, or gritty realism. You’ll often see まみれ in crime scenes, war stories, or rough sports descriptions — settings where the mess is inseparable from the story.
まみれ vs だらけ
Both translate to “covered with,” but the overlap ends there.
A quick rule of thumb: if you can wipe it off in one go and it leaves a stain, use まみれ. If you’d need to pick up individual pieces, use だらけ.
The verb まみれる (血にまみれる) is a slightly more literary equivalent of まみれになる, but the noun + まみれ is far more common in everyday speech.
Common mistakes with まみれ
The most common trap is reaching for まみれ any time you want to say “covered.” Always pause and ask: is this a layer of something sticky, or just many of something?
Is まみれ on the JLPT?
On the JLPT you may encounter:
- Reading passages that use 血まみれ or 泥まみれ to set a gritty atmosphere.
- Grammar questions that ask you to choose between まみれ, だらけ, and other N1 suffixes (like めく or まる).
- Listening clips where a speaker describes a messy situation—recognizing まみれ gives you instant context.
While it’s not the hardest N1 point, practicing original sentences with a range of messy substances will cement it for the test.
Practice questions for まみれ
Try answering out loud first, then write the sentences down. Compare your まみれ usage with a classmate or tutor if possible.
Learning path for まみれ
With each step, move from passive recognition to active production. The messy, tactile imagery of まみれ sticks in memory easily once you connect it to real experiences.
Related grammar to review next
- まるっきり — because it also intensifies a state (completely, utterly) and appears in negative contexts, much like まみれ describes total coverage.
- まくる — adds a sense of relentlessly doing something; just as まみれ shows a surface thoroughly coated, まくる shows an action done over and over, often to messy effect.
- めく — another N1 suffix that attaches to nouns to show a quality (～らしくなる); comparing it with まみれ sharpens your sense of how single-kanji suffixes work.
- まじき — a formal negative suffix (“unthinkable”); contrast its abstract meaning with まみれ’s physical coating to appreciate the range of suffix-based grammar at N1.
Learn まみれ with Hane
If you want to review まみれ together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. You’ll see these points in context, get instant feedback, and build speed for the JLPT.
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FAQ about まみれ
What does まみれ mean in Japanese?
まみれ means “covered with; stained; smeared with ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is まみれ on the JLPT?
まみれ is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice まみれ?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after まみれ, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.