ムレムレ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

usually written using kana alone

Describes a hot, humid, and stuffy feeling, often from trapped steam or sweat. Used for clothes, rooms, or body parts that feel uncomfortably damp and warm.

雨あめの日ひは靴くつの中なかがムレムレになる。
On rainy days, the inside of my shoes gets all steamy and sweaty.
この部屋へや、ムレムレで暑あついね。
This room is so stuffy and hot, isn't it?

Kanji

蒸steam, heat, sultry

Related words

蒸むし暑あつい
蒸し暑い is a standard adjective for hot and humid weather, while ムレムレ is a casual, onomatopoeic expression focusing on the uncomfortable dampness and stuffiness, often from trapped moisture.
ジメジメ
ジメジメ describes a damp, wet, and often gloomy humidity, while ムレムレ emphasizes the warm, steamy, and sweaty discomfort.

Written forms

ムレムレ
kana-only spelling
Common katakana spelling, often used in casual or emphatic contexts.
蒸むれ蒸むれ
Kanji spelling is possible but very uncommon; the word is usually written in kana.

Etymology

Reduplication of the verb stem 蒸れ (mure, 'steaming, becoming stuffy'), creating a mimetic-like adverb/adjective emphasizing a state of being filled with steam or sweat.