Translation guide
The English word "mire" refers to a difficult, entangled situation or literal deep mud. This guide focuses on the metaphorical sense of being stuck in a problematic situation, as the literal sense is less common in everyday English.
Expressing being stuck in a problematic, complicated, or messy situation, often with a sense of entanglement or difficulty in getting out.
Literally 'mud swamp', this is the most direct and common metaphorical equivalent for 'mire'. It describes a situation that is messy, difficult to escape, and often worsening.
Referring to actual wet, soft, deep mud that is difficult to walk through.
English often uses 'mire' as a verb (e.g., 'mired in controversy'). Japanese does not have a direct verb equivalent. Use phrases like 泥沼にはまる or 陥る (おちいる) to express the idea of being stuck.
He got mired in scandal.
泥沼 is particularly effective when the situation is not just difficult but also seems to get worse the more you struggle, like a quagmire. It carries a strong sense of entanglement and hopelessness.
That country is mired in civil war.
I can't get out of the mire of debt.
A common phrase meaning 'to get stuck in a mire'. It emphasizes the action of falling into a difficult situation.
He got mired in gambling.
Means 'predicament' or 'difficult situation'. It is more formal and less vivid than 泥沼, but can be used when the situation is serious and hard to escape.
He is in a mire.
Means 'plight' or 'difficult situation'. Similar to 窮地 but slightly less formal. It implies suffering and hardship.
The company is in a mire.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'a situation one cannot escape from'. It is a clear, neutral way to express being mired without a specific metaphor.
He is in a mire.
The same word used metaphorically also means a literal muddy swamp or bog. It is the standard term for a mire in the physical sense.
The car got stuck in the mire and couldn't move.
Refers to muddy ground, often after rain. It is less deep than 泥沼 and more about surface mud.
The path is a mire and hard to walk on.
Means 'wetland' or 'marsh'. It is a more technical or geographical term for a swampy area, not necessarily deep mud.
The mire is a habitat for migratory birds.