〜だらけ
darake
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
full of, covered with (undesirable)
〜だらけ means "full of, covered with" and always implies too much of something unwelcome: kids covered in mud, an essay riddled with mistakes, a room full of dust. It attaches to nouns and acts like a な-adjective (だらけの + noun, だらけだ, だらけになる).
Both registers, common in speech. Only negative things: 泥, 傷, ごみ, ほこり, 血, 間違い, 借金, しわ. Do not use it for pleasant things (花だらけ is odd unless you are complaining). Compare まみれ (liquid or sticky covering) and ずくめ (all of one kind, N1).
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
N + だらけ
Visual diagram
| Aspect | Type of thing | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜だらけ | many unwanted things / marks | 間違いだらけ・傷だらけ |
| 〜まみれ | a liquid or sticky substance on a surface | 汗まみれ・血まみれ |
| 〜ずくめ | entirely of one kind (neutral) | 黒ずくめ・いいことずくめ |
Natural examples
子供たちは泥だらけになって帰ってきた。
こどもたちはどろだらけになってかえってきた。
The kids came home covered in mud.
だらけになる with 泥.
この作文は間違いだらけだ。
このさくぶんはまちがいだらけだ。
This essay is riddled with mistakes.
だらけだ with abstract 間違い.
部屋はほこりだらけだった。
へやはほこりだらけだった。
The room was covered in dust.
だらけだった with ほこり.
猫が壁で爪をとぐので、壁は傷だらけだ。
ねこがかべでつめをとぐので、かべはきずだらけだ。
Because the cat scratches the wall, it is covered in scratches.
傷だらけ is very common.
彼は借金だらけの生活から抜け出そうとしている。
かれはしゃっきんだらけのせいかつからぬけだそうとしている。
He is trying to escape a life buried in debt.
だらけの + noun.
Similar grammar and the difference
Liquid/sticky substances covering a surface (汗・血・油・泥まみれ). Compare side by side
〜ずくめ
"All of one kind", neutral or positive; N1.
〜でいっぱい
"Full of" in a neutral sense (人でいっぱい).
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 庭は花だらけで、きれいだ。
- ✓
- 庭は花でいっぱいで、きれいだ。
- Why
- だらけ is for unwelcome things.
- ✗
- 汗だらけになった。
- ✓
- 汗まみれになった。
- Why
- Sweat is a liquid covering; まみれ is the natural choice (汗だらけ is heard but non-standard).
- ✗
- 間違いだらけ作文
- ✓
- 間違いだらけの作文
- Why
- Add の before a noun.
Frequent: 泥だらけ, 傷だらけ, ごみだらけ, ほこりだらけ, 間違いだらけ, 借金だらけ, しわだらけ. The tone is usually complaining or dismayed. Can describe abstract things (矛盾だらけ, 嘘だらけ).
JLPT N2 tips
On the exam
- Noun of unwanted stuff + blank meaning "full of" → だらけ.
- Distractors: まみれ, ずくめ, がち. Liquids → まみれ; abstract errors and countable marks → だらけ.
- Options without の before a noun are traps.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜だらけ mean?
full of, covered with (undesirable). 〜だらけ means "full of, covered with" and always implies too much of something unwelcome: kids covered in mud, an essay riddled with mistakes, a room full of dust. It attaches to nouns and acts like a な-adjective (だらけの + noun, だらけだ, だらけになる).
How do you form 〜だらけ?
N + だらけ. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜だらけ used?
Both registers, common in speech. Only negative things: 泥, 傷, ごみ, ほこり, 血, 間違い, 借金, しわ. Do not use it for pleasant things (花だらけ is odd unless you are complaining). Compare まみれ (liquid or sticky covering) and ずくめ (all of one kind, N1).
What is the difference between 〜だらけ and 〜まみれ?
Liquid/sticky substances covering a surface (汗・血・油・泥まみれ).
What is the difference between 〜だらけ and 〜ずくめ?
"All of one kind", neutral or positive; N1.
What is a common mistake with 〜だらけ?
Wrong: 庭は花だらけで、きれいだ。 Right: 庭は花でいっぱいで、きれいだ。 だらけ is for unwelcome things.
Quick check
子供の部屋はおもちゃ（ ）で、足の踏み場もない。