だらけ means full of; covered with; a lot of (something undesirable) ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to describe something covered in or full of negative or undesirable things.
This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to describe messes, problems, or undesirable accumulations, だらけ is a useful pattern to learn.
What does だらけ mean?
Use だらけ when you want to describe something covered in or full of negative or undesirable things.
Natural translations include:
- full of; covered with (something negative) ~
- full of; covered with; a lot of (something undesirable) ~
- full of; covered with
How to form だらけ
Noun + だらけ
Examples of the pattern:
- 泥だらけ
- 間違いだらけ
- 借金だらけ
When is だらけ used?
Use だらけ in situations like:
- complaining about messes
- describing bad conditions
- exaggerating negative situations
Tone and register:
- neutral
- Common in complaining about messes, test questions, and written narratives
だらけ example sentences
- レポートが間違いだらけだった。 \u2014 The report was full of mistakes.
- 子供が泥だらけになって遊んでいる。 \u2014 The kids are playing, covered in mud.
- 彼は借金だらけだ。 \u2014 He is deep in debt.
- 部屋がゴミだらけだ。 \u2014 The room is full of garbage.
- その書類は嘘だらけだった。 \u2014 That document was full of lies.
Nuance of だらけ
The key nuance is always negative or undesirable — you use it for mud, mistakes, debts, and dirt, never for flowers or presents.
This matters because 〜だらけ is inherently negative. It implies the thing is ruined, messy, or problematic because of what covers it. Do not use it for positive things..
For example:
- In complaining about messes, it sounds natural and specific.
- Compared with まみれ, it carries a different weight and implication.
だらけ vs まみれ
Both だらけ and まみれ can express full of, but they are different.
だらけ:
- strongly negative; used for abstract and physical undesirable things like debts, mistakes, lies
まみれ:
- neutral or slightly negative; physical covering with sticky or wet things like blood or mud
Quick contrast examples:
- 服が泥だらけだ。 \u2014 My clothes are covered in mud (what a mess).
- 服が泥まみれだ。 \u2014 My clothes are caked with mud (physically covered).
Common mistakes with だらけ
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Using it for positive things (花だらけ sounds like an infestation of flowers)
- Confusing it with ばかり which means only, not covered in
- Using it in formal writing where に満ちている might be more appropriate
Is だらけ on the JLPT?
Yes. だらけ is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for だらけ
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Say a report is full of mistakes.
- Complain that your room is full of garbage.
- Describe someone covered in mud.
Learn だらけ with Kanjiru
If you want to review だらけ together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N3 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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