Translation guide
The English word 'mud' refers to wet, soft earth. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 泥 (どろ), but there are several related words for specific types of mud, such as sludge, slime, or mud used in different contexts. This guide covers the main Japanese words for mud and related concepts, from general to specific.
The most common, everyday word for mud, like the kind you find on the ground after rain.
The standard word for mud. It can refer to any soft, wet earth or dirt.
靴が泥で汚れた。
My shoes got dirty with mud.
雨の後、道は泥だらけだった。
After the rain, the road was covered in mud.
Mud that is particularly thick, sticky, or sludgy, often found at the bottom of ponds or in swamps.
Refers to sludge, ooze, or very thick, sticky mud, often with a negative connotation of pollution or stagnation.
池の底にはヘドロが溜まっている。
Sludge has accumulated at the bottom of the pond.
Literally 'mud and soil', often used for thick, sticky mud, especially in literary or technical contexts.
工事現場は泥土でぬかるんでいた。
The construction site was muddy with thick mud.
Mud that is more like slime or goo, often with a negative or unpleasant feel.
Refers to a muddy, slushy area or the mud itself that makes walking difficult. Often used for deep, soft mud.
ぬかるみに足を取られた。
My foot got stuck in the mud.
A formal or literary term for deep mud or mire. Rare in everyday speech.
Mud or clay used as a material, such as in building or making pottery.
Clay. While not exactly 'mud', it is often the closest word when referring to mud used for crafting or construction.
子供たちは粘土で遊んだ。
The children played with clay.
Can also be used for mud as a material in contexts like mud walls or mud bricks.
泥壁の家。
A house with mud walls.
Mud used for bathing or beauty treatments, often mineral-rich.
Used in compounds like 泥パック (mud pack) or 泥温泉 (mud hot spring).
泥パックは肌にいいそうです。
Mud packs are said to be good for the skin.
Using 'mud' metaphorically to mean slander or a bad reputation.
Idiom meaning 'to slander' or 'to disgrace' (literally 'to smear mud on someone').
彼は私の顔に泥を塗った。
He disgraced me (smeared mud on my face).
A mudslinging contest; a fight where both sides sling mud at each other.
泥 is the general word for mud, while ヘドロ specifically refers to thick, sludgy, often polluted mud or ooze. Use 泥 for everyday mud and ヘドロ for unpleasant, sticky sludge.
The English word 'mud' specifically means wet earth. If you mean dry dirt or soil, use 土 (つち). 泥 always implies wetness.
車が泥にはまって動けなくなった。
My car got stuck in the mud.
子供たちは泥んこ遊びをしていた。
The children were playing in the mud.
泥んこ (どろんこ) is a colloquial, child-friendly word for mud.
泥濘に沈む車。
A car sinking into the mire.
政治家たちの泥仕合にはうんざりだ。
I'm fed up with the politicians' mudslinging.