Have you ever seen someone dressed all in one color, like black from head to toe, and thought, “Wow, that’s really all-out”?
You know, in movies or anime, there’s always that mysterious evil organization where everyone wears jet-black outfits... ring a bell?

Or maybe you’ve had a day that felt like it was nothing but good luck (or bad luck)?

In Japanese, we use ずくめ (zukume) to express the idea of being “completely,” “entirely,” or “nothing but” something.
It’s an N1-level expression, but once you get the hang of it, it’s super fun to use, especially for exaggeration or emphasis in daily conversation.

Shall we check it out?

だらけ (darake)
Often used for negative situations, meaning “full of ~” or “covered with ~.”

間違いだらけのレポート。
まちがい だらけ の れぽーと。
machigai darake no repooto.
A report full of mistakes.

まみれ (mamire)
Means “smeared with, covered in ~.” Often used with physical substances.

汗まみれのシャツ。
あせ まみれ の しゃつ。
ase mamire no shatsu.
A shirt drenched in sweat.

💡 Tip:
だらけ → usually negative, “messy, full of unwanted things”
まみれ → physical covering, often dirty or intense
ずくめ → broader, can be positive or neutral, often exaggerates “all ~”

今年は良いことずくめの一年だったなぁ！
ことし は いい こと ずくめ の いちねん だった なぁ！
kotoshi ha ii koto zukume no ichinen datta naa!
This year was nothing but good things, it was such a great year!

先週は悪いことずくめで、本当に疲れた。
せんしゅう は わるい こと ずくめ で、ほんとうに つかれた。
senshuu ha warui koto zukume de, hontou ni tsukareta.
Last week was full of nothing but bad things, and I was really exhausted.

黒ずくめの男に追いかけられている。
くろ ずくめ の おとこ に おいかけられている。
kuro zukume no otoko ni oikakarete iru.
I’m being chased by a man dressed all in black.

ごちそうずくめの誕生日で、最高だった。
ごちそう ずくめ の たんじょうび で、さいこう だった。
gochisou zukume no tanjoubi de, saikou datta.
My birthday was full of feasts, and it was amazing.

異例ずくめの人事異動にオフィスが騒がしかった。
いれい ずくめ の じんじ いどう に おふぃす が さわがしかった。
irei zukume no jinji idou ni ofisu ga sawagashikatta.
The office was in an uproar over a series of unprecedented personnel changes.

• Grammar Point: ずくめ (zukume)
• JLPT Level: N1
• Meaning: Completely, entirely, nothing but
• Quick Explanation: ずくめ is used to emphasize that something is made up entirely of one thing, or that a situation is “nothing but” a certain condition.

So that’s how we use ずくめ in Japanese!
It’s a colorful way to say “completely” or “nothing but,” whether you’re talking about clothes, experiences, or even your whole day.

この週末は、抹茶のお菓子を食べながら、ジブリ映画を見て、日本のシティポップソングをカラオケで歌って、日本ずくめの休日にしよう！
この しゅうまつ は、まっちゃ の おかし を たべながら、じぶり えいが を みて、にほん の してぃぽっぷ そんぐ を からおけ で うたって、にほん ずくめ の きゅうじつ に しよう！
kono shuumatsu ha, maccha no okashi wo tabenagara, Jiburi eiga wo mite, nihon no shitipoppu songu wo karaoke de utatte, nihon zukume no kyuujitsu ni shiyou!
This weekend, let’s eat matcha sweets, watch Ghibli movies, sing Japanese city pop songs at karaoke, and make it a holiday completely full of Japan!

Now it’s your turn! What kind of “ずくめ” day would you like to have? Try making your own sentence! 

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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