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まめ Japanese meaning | Kotomora

まめ

ま

め

○

Meanings

1

noun

usually written using kana alonecolloquial

Refers to a blister or corn on the skin, typically from friction or pressure. Colloquial term.

新あたらしい靴くつで歩あるいたら、かかとにまめができた。
I got a blister on my heel from walking in new shoes.
ギターを弾ひきすぎて指ゆびにまめができた。
I played guitar too much and got a blister on my finger.

Written forms

マメ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is sometimes used for emphasis or in casual contexts.
肉刺まめ
Rare kanji spelling; the characters literally mean 'flesh thorn'.
荳まめ
Obscure single-character kanji form; not in common use.

Kanji

肉meat
刺

thorn, pierce, stab

荳bean, nutmeg

Similar words

水みずぶくれ
水ぶくれ specifically refers to a water blister, while まめ can be any friction blister or corn.
たこ
たこ is a callus, which is thicker and harder than a まめ (blister).

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. Possibly related to the word for 'bean' (豆) due to the small, round shape of a blister.