JLPT N1 Grammar – Difference between “〜ずくめ” and “〜まみれ”

Table of Contents

1. Diffrence between “〜ずくめ” and “〜まみれ”
2. 〜ずくめ
3. 〜まみれ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “〜ずくめ” and “〜まみれ”?

A: Both “〜ずくめ” and “〜まみれ” describe a state where something is abundant, but they differ in usage and context. Let’s clarify each one.

〜ずくめ (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
① Continuous occurrence of something
② Filled with ~

[Rules]
[A] い adjective＋こと＋ずくめ
[N] Noun＋ずくめ

[Commonly Used Words]
黒くろ(black)・ごちそう(feast)・けっこう(quite)・幸しあわせ(happy)・いいこと(good things)・おめでたい(auspicious)・うれしい(joyful)　etc.

[Examples]
わー！今日きょうの晩ご飯ばん　はんはごちそうずくめだね！（①）
Wow! Tonight’s dinner is a feast of delicacies!

あそこに帽子ぼうしから靴くつまで黒くろずくめの男おとこがいます。（①）
There is a man dressed entirely in black, from hat to shoes, over there.

今日きょうはプレゼンがうまくいって社長しゃちょうにもほめられていいことずくめだ！（②）
Today’s presentation went well, and the boss praised me—good things all around!

今年ことしは幸しあわせずくめの一いち年ねんでした。（②）
This year has been full of happiness.

〜まみれ (JLPT N1)

[Meaning]
~ is covered with a lot of

[Rule]
[N] Noun＋まみれ

[Commonly used words]
ほこり(dust)・泥どろ(mud)・血ち(blood)・砂すな(sand)・汗あせ(sweat)・油あぶら(oil)　etc.

[Examples]
あまりの暑あつさで汗あせまみれになりました。
I was drenched in sweat from the intense heat.

この部屋へやはほこりまみれですね。
This room is covered in dust.

泥どろまみれの靴くつを洗あらいました。
I washed shoes that were covered in mud.

揚あげ物ものをしたら、キッチンが油あぶらまみれになりました。
After frying food, the kitchen became covered in oil.

Let’s Compare

[ずくめ]

This term has two meanings. The first meaning describes a state of being filled with something, and it is often used with specific words, so it’s helpful to memorize these common combinations.

[Examples]
ステーキ、オムライス、デザート！今日きょうの晩ご飯ばん　はんはごちそうずくめだね！
Steak, omelette rice, and dessert! Tonight’s dinner is a feast!
⇒ This expresses that the dinner is filled with delicious dishes.

黒くろずくめの男おとこが北きたのほうへ逃にげて行いきました。
The man dressed entirely in black fled north.
⇒ This means the man was wearing all-black clothing. It rarely uses other colors, and there is no particular positive nuance; it simply describes the appearance.

The second meaning describes a state where positive events continue to occur. It is used for situations with a series of happy or fortunate occurrences.

[Examples]
先月せんげつは娘むすめの孫まごが生うまれて、今月こんげつは息子むすこの孫まごが生うまれておめでたいことずくめです。
Last month, my daughter’s child was born, and this month, my son’s child was born—it’s a year full of happy events.
⇒ This means that having grandchildren born in consecutive months is a series of joyful events.

今年ことしは無事ぶじに就職しゅうしょくできて素敵すてきな彼氏かれしもできて、けっこうずくめな一いち年ねんでした。
This year, I secured a job successfully and found a wonderful boyfriend—it’s been quite a fulfilling year.
⇒ “けっこうずくめ” is a set phrase meaning “a year filled with good things.”

[まみれ]

This term describes a state where unpleasant liquids or fine particles cover the body or an object. Unlike “ずくめ,” which often has positive connotations, this term is never used with positive nuances.

[Examples]
あまりの暑あつさで汗あせまみれになりました。
The heat was so intense that I ended up covered in sweat.
⇒ This indicates that the entire body is covered in sweat.

ビーチに物ものを置おいていたら砂すなまみれになった。
I left my things on the beach, and they got covered in sand.
⇒ This shows that the objects are covered in sand.

Summary

[ずくめ]

• ① Describes a state of being filled with a particular thing.
• ② Describes a state where good things continuously happen.
• Words commonly used with this expression are fixed and it is used with a very positive meaning.

[まみれ]

• Describes a state where unpleasant liquids or fine particles cover and dirty the entire body or object.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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