# ずくめ: completely; entirely; nothing but ~ > Learn how to use ずくめ, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning completely; entirely; nothing but ~, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-zukume/ **ずくめ** means **completely; entirely; nothing but ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express that something consists totally of a certain quality, often creating a vivid or consistent impression. This grammar point often appears in descriptive writing, essays, and reading passages. If you want to convey that a situation is “all X” without exception — whether clothes, events, or attributes — **ずくめ** is a pattern that adds expressive precision to your Japanese. ## What does ずくめ mean? Use **ずくめ** when you want to show that something is entirely made up of a particular element, leaving no space for anything else. It attaches to nouns and means “nothing but,” “all,” or “completely.” Natural translations include: - completely; entirely; nothing but; all in ~; a string of ~ The feeling is one of totality. It can be neutral, positive, or occasionally negative, depending on the noun. For instance, a room filled with books (本ほんずくめ) is a compliment, while a day of nothing but trouble (困っ(こまっ)たことずくめ) is clearly negative. The best English phrase should reflect the emotional weight of that totality. ## How to form ずくめ
Noun + ずくめ
It’s a suffix glued directly to the plain (dictionary) form of a noun. No changes to the noun, no particles in between: - 黒くろ + ずくめ → 黒(くろ)ずくめ - 白しろずくめ, 青あおずくめ (all in one color) - いいことずくめ (nothing but good things) - 楽たのしいことずくめ (a string of fun events) - 謎なぞずくめ (full of mysteries) If you want to describe a verb-based action as “all X,” you must first turn it into a noun (e.g., 嬉うれしいことずくめ, not 嬉しいずくめ). The attachment is strictly noun + ずくめ. ## When is ずくめ used? Use **ずくめ** in situations like: - describing someone’s clothing or appearance that is all one color (黒ずくめ, 白ずくめ) - narrating a sequence of events that share the same quality (いいことずくめの一日) - characterizing a place or thing by its overwhelming content (本ずくめの本棚) - adding emphatic, sometimes slightly dramatic, flavor to written sentences Tone and register: - neutral to slightly literary; common in written descriptions, essays, and storytelling - used in casual speech with common collocations like 黒ずくめ or いいことずくめ to add color - not formal, but its emphatic totality makes it feel deliberate — you don’t toss it into every sentence ## ずくめ example sentences
彼かれは黒(くろ)ずくめの服ふくを着きていた。
He was dressed all in black.
clothing appearance
今週こんしゅうはいいことずくめだった。
This week was nothing but good things.
events positive
そのレストランは珍めずらしい料理りょうりずくめで有名ゆうめいだ。
That restaurant is famous for having nothing but unusual dishes.
content description
正月しょうがつはおめでたいことずくめの日々ひびだ。
New Year’s is a time of nothing but auspicious events.
seasonal tradition
彼女かのじょの部屋へやは可愛かわいいものずくめだ。
Her room is completely full of cute things.
appearance positive
この小説しょうせつは謎なぞずくめで、読者どくしゃを飽あきさせない。
This novel is nothing but mysteries and keeps the reader hooked.
content literary
昨夜さくやは怖こわい話はなしずくめの会かいだった。
Last night’s get-together was nothing but scary stories.
atmosphere event
Notice that each sentence paints a consistent, unbroken picture. That’s the essence of ずくめ: no dilution, no mixture. ## Nuance of ずくめ The key nuance is **complete, uninterrupted consistency** — a noun-soup where nothing else floats. It emphasises totality rather than quantity. This matters because learners often assume it just means “many” or “full.” But ずくめ says “it is X from top to bottom.” Compare: - 本(ほん)ずくめの本棚(ほんだな) — the bookshelf is **all books**, not simply “full of books.” It implies that every object is a book, and books alone define the shelf. - いいことずくめの一日(いちにち) — not a day with many good things, but a day where **every single thing** was good. It’s a sweeping claim. Because it’s so absolute, it carries a slight dramatic or emphatic flavor. Use it when you want to highlight that quality dominates everything. For negative contexts (困っ(こまっ)たことずくめ, 不幸(ふこう)ずくめ), the totality can intensify the complaint. It’s not just “many problems” but “a world made of problems.” ## ずくめ vs だらけ Both patterns talk about abundance, but they differ in tone and what is being emphasised.
ずくめ
totality of composition
used when something is entirely made up of that element, usually neutral or positive, often abstract or categorical
この博物館はくぶつかんは歴史的れきしてきな展示てんじずくめだ。
This museum is nothing but historical exhibits.
だらけ
messy coverage
used when a surface or situation is covered with something undesirable, often physical or figurative negativity
床ゆかがほこりだらけだ。
The floor is covered with dust.
A quick A/B test: - 黒(くろ)ずくめの男(おとこ) — the man is dressed all in black (probably stylish or deliberate). - 黒(くろ)だらけの男(おとこ) — the man is covered in black smudges, paint, or dirt (messy, undesirable). If you can substitute “covered with nasty X” and the sentence still makes sense, you’re probably in だらけ territory. If the idea is “consistently X,” ずくめ is your word. ## Common mistakes with ずくめ Avoid these typical errors:
❌ 嬉しい(うれしい)ずくめ
✅ 嬉しい(うれしい)ことずくめ
ずくめ attaches only to nouns. If you start with an i-adjective, turn it into a noun phrase (嬉しい(うれしい)こと, 楽しい(たのしい)こと, 珍しい(めずらしい)こと).
❌ 部屋(へや)が本(ほん)だらけだ。
✅ 部屋(へや)は本(ほん)ずくめだ。
だらけ makes it sound like books are scattered messily. Use ずくめ for a positive, deliberate collection.
❌ 黒く(くろく)ずくめ
✅ 黒(くろ)ずくめ
No conjugating the noun. Just 黒(くろ), not 黒く(くろく).
## Is ずくめ on the JLPT?
N1
Level: N1 Frequency: occasional; appears in reading comprehension and vocabulary sections

On the JLPT N1, you’re expected to:

  • recognize the pattern in sentences and understand its emphasis on totality
  • distinguish it from similar expressions like だらけ or ばかり
  • sometimes answer questions about the nuance of a passage where it appears

Production is rarely tested directly, but being able to use it in an essay or short response shows advanced command.

For test preparation, read descriptive texts that use color or content descriptions. ずくめ often pops up in passages about traditional arts (monochrome kimono), festive events, or mysterious novels. ## Practice questions for ずくめ
1
Describe what you wore to a formal event using ずくめ. Use a color, then add a detail about why it was intentional.
colors
2
Write two sentences about a perfect day: one with ずくめ for good events, and another contrast with だらけ for a messy morning.
comparison
3
A friend’s desk is covered in nothing but study materials. Express that thought naturally using ずくめ.
description
4
Explain why 謎(なぞ)ずくめの小説(しょうせつ) sounds more exciting than 謎(なぞ)だらけの小説(しょうせつ).
nuance
## Learning path for ずくめ
1
Memorize the core collocations. Start with 黒(くろ)ずくめ, 白(しろ)ずくめ, 青(あお)ずくめ, いいことずくめ. These are the most common and will help you internalize the pattern’s flavor.
2
Learn the boundary with だらけ. Create your own sentences contrasting the two: a clean, intentional totality vs. a messy, undesirable coverage. This contrast cements the distinction.
3
Expand to abstract nouns. Try 楽しみ(たのしみ)ずくめ, 驚き(おどろき)ずくめ, 幸せ(しあわせ)ずくめ. Check with a native speaker or online corpus to see if the combination is natural; not every noun works.
4
Use it in a descriptive paragraph. Write about a place or event where one quality dominates. Replace bland expressions like たくさん or いっぱい with ずくめ to heighten the impression.
5
Cross-reference related N1 patterns. Look at the grammars listed below — while they aren’t meaning-related, they share the ず kanji and can help you navigate N1-level reading where multiple forms appear together.
## Related grammar to review next Though the following N1 patterns are unrelated in meaning, they all feature ず (the classical negative), and getting comfortable with them will strengthen your N1 reading ability: - [ずとも](/blog/n1-zu-tomo/) — even without doing; even if one doesn’t - [ずにはすまない / ないではすまない](/blog/n1-zu-niwa-sumanai-nai-dewa-sumanai/) — can’t get away without doing - [ずにはおかない / ないではおかない](/blog/n1-zu-niwa-okanai-nai-dewa-okanai/) — will inevitably do / cause something - [ずじまい](/blog/n1-zu-jimai/) — ending up not doing; never managed to Each of these patterns deepens your understanding of advanced Japanese syntax. Together with ずくめ, they form a toolkit for nuanced expression at the N1 level. ## Learn ずくめ with Hane If you want to review **ずくめ** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)