GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜だらけ
Indicates that an undesirable thing covers a surface or occurs throughout an area in large amounts.
Examples
片づける前の机の上は資料だらけだった。
Before I tidied it, the top of the desk was covered in documents.
Words used
雨上がりの道は水たまりだらけだった。
After the rain, the road was full of puddles.
Words used
外で遊んだ子どもの服は泥だらけだった。
The clothes of the child who had played outside were covered in mud.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Attach
だらけto a noun to describe the same thing being present in many places or in large amounts. - Basic usage:
外で遊んだ子どもの服は泥だらけだった。describes the child's clothes being covered in mud.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- The speaker's evaluation rather than the item itself
間違いだらけの文章negatively evaluates a text full of errors. In資料だらけの机, the scattered abundance may be the problem rather than the documents themselves.
- Modification and predication
泥だらけの服usesのto modify the clothes, while服は泥だらけだstates their condition at the end of a sentence.