どろどろ

ど

ろ

ど

ろ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

どろどろする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	どろどろする	どろどろしない
Polite	どろどろします	どろどろしません
Past polite	どろどろしました	どろどろしませんでした
Past	どろどろした	どろどろしなかった
Te-form	どろどろして	どろどろしないで
Desire	どろどろしたい	どろどろしたくない
Potential	どろどろできる	どろどろできない
Passive	どろどろされる	どろどろされない
Causative	どろどろさせる	どろどろさせない
Causative passive	どろどろさせられる	どろどろさせられない
Volitional	どろどろしよう
Polite volitional	どろどろしましょう
Imperative	どろどろしろ	どろどろするな
Conditional	どろどろすれば	どろどろしなければ
Tara conditional	どろどろしたら	どろどろしなかったら

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective, adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle

viscous; thick; mushy; sticky

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Describes a thick, semi-liquid consistency like mud, syrup, or pulp. Often used for food, bodily fluids, or melted substances.

このスープはどろどろしていて、あまり美味おいしそうじゃない。
This soup is thick and mushy; it doesn't look very appetizing.
溶とけたチョコレートがどろどろになった。
The melted chocolate became gooey.

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', na-adjective

muddy; dirty; covered in grime

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Specifically for surfaces or objects soiled with mud, oil, or grease. Often implies a messy, unpleasant state.

雨あめの後あとで、道みちがどろどろになった。
After the rain, the road became muddy.
作さ業ぎょう着ぎが油あぶらでどろどろだ。
My work clothes are dirty with oil.

noun or participle which takes 'suru', adverb taking the 'to' particle

murky; sordid; tangled (emotions/relations)

onomatopoeic or mimetic wordusually written using kana alone

Metaphorical use for complex, ugly, or messy human situations, such as relationships, emotions, or scandals. Often used with する to describe a state becoming murky.

二人ふたりの関かん係けいはどろどろしている。
Their relationship is messy and complicated.
その事じ件けんの裏うらにはどろどろした事じ情じょうがあった。
There were sordid circumstances behind the incident.

See all 18 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉がどろどろに溶とけるfor something to melt into a thick, gooey mass
チョコレートが暑あつさでどろどろに溶とけた。
The chocolate melted into a gooey mess in the heat.
〈物もの〉でどろどろになるto become covered in mud, grease, or grime
サッカーの後あと、靴くつが泥どろでどろどろになった。
After the soccer game, his shoes were covered in mud.
〈人ひと〉の関かん係けいがどろどろするfor a relationship to become tangled and sordid
二人ふたりの関かん係けいはどろどろしていて、周まわりも困こまっている。
Their relationship has become such a tangled mess that everyone around them is troubled.
汗あせでどろどろになるto become drenched and sticky with sweat
真ま夏なつの練れん習しゅうで体からだは汗あせでどろどろになった。
After practicing in the midsummer heat, his body was drenched and sticky with sweat.
どろどろの〈事こと〉a sordid, tangled affair (e.g. scandal, love triangle)
その芸げい能のう人じんはどろどろの恋れん愛あい劇げきで話わ題だいになった。
The celebrity became a hot topic because of a sordid love triangle.

Kanji

泥mud, mire, adhere to

Related words

ぐちゃぐちゃN2sense 1
ぐちゃぐちゃ stresses a chaotic, squished disorder, while どろどろ focuses on thick, muddy viscosity.
ベトベト sense 1
べとべと describes a sticky, tacky surface like sweat or glue, while どろどろ implies a thicker, more fluid muddy consistency.
とろとろN1sense 1
とろとろ describes a smooth, slow-flowing thickness (like melted cheese), while どろどろ suggests a heavier, muddier or messier viscosity.
ねばねばN1sense 1
ねばねば highlights stringy stickiness (like natto), whereas どろどろ emphasizes overall thick, muddy fluidity.

Don't confuse with

とろとろN1
どろどろ sounds and looks similar to とろとろ but describes a thicker, muddier, often unpleasant viscosity, whereas とろとろ is a softer, usually pleasant texture.

Written forms

どろどろUsage47%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ドロドロUsage52%
kana-only spelling
Katakana variant, often used for emphasis or in informal writing.
泥どろ々どろUsage1%
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; rarely used in practice.
泥どろ泥どろ
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; rarely used in practice.

Etymology

Mimetic word derived from the reduplication of どろ (mud), imitating the sound or sensation of thick, muddy substances. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a common onomatopoeic formation in Japanese.