Translation guide
Describes something becoming muddy, cloudy, or unclear, both literally (water, ground) and figuratively (thoughts, situations).
To describe water, a river, or a liquid becoming muddy, cloudy, or turbid.
The most common and general verb for a liquid becoming muddy, cloudy, or impure. Used for water, rivers, sake, etc.
雨で川が濁った。
The river became muddy because of the rain.
この水は濁っている。
This water is muddy.
Literally 'muddiness comes out', used when sediment or cloudiness appears in a liquid.
しばらく置くと濁りが出る。
If you leave it for a while, it becomes cloudy.
To describe a road, path, or ground becoming muddy, slushy, or sloppy.
Specifically for ground or roads becoming muddy and slushy, often making walking difficult.
雨で道がぬかるんでいる。
The road is muddy from the rain.
Literally 'become covered in mud', used when something gets muddy or dirty with mud.
雨の後、庭が泥だらけになった。
After the rain, the garden became muddy.
To describe a mental state, judgment, or atmosphere becoming clouded, confused, or muddled.
Also used figuratively for thoughts, mind, or voice becoming unclear or impure.
Primarily means 'become cloudy' (weather), but can be used for mind or expression becoming clouded or gloomy.
Literally 'head becomes confused', used when thoughts become muddled or unclear.
情報が多すぎて頭が混乱した。
There was too much information and my mind became muddled.
To describe a voice becoming hoarse, thick, or unclear.
To describe a color becoming muddy, dull, or lacking clarity.
濁る is for liquids, sounds, colors, or abstract things becoming impure/unclear. ぬかるむ is specifically for ground becoming muddy and slushy. 曇る is primarily for weather (cloudy) or glass/mirrors fogging up, but can extend to mind/expression becoming gloomy.
泥になる (どろになる) means 'turn into mud' (e.g., food decomposing into mud), not 'become muddy'. Use 濁る or ぬかるむ instead.
My heart became clouded with anxiety.
My voice became hoarse from a cold.
This paint becomes muddy when mixed.