How to say "mud" in Japanese

• 泥どろJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers mud in the literal sense: wet, soft dirt, as on rain-soaked roads, shoes, or riverbanks. If dirt is soaked enough to be muddy, it is 泥.
  川かわは泥どろで濁にごっていた。↗

  The river was cloudy with silt.
• 土つちJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounMeans earth, soil, or dirt in general—the ground, clay, what plants grow in—rather than mud; for wet, muddy dirt it is seldom the word you want, since that is 泥.
  農家のうかの人ひと達たちは鋤すきで土つちを耕たがやす。↗

  Farmers turn up the soil with plows.

For mud proper—wet, soft dirt—use 泥; 土 means earth, soil, dirt, or clay, so it fits ground and soil contexts and is seldom the right choice for mud itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 泥どろmud
• 土つちearth
• マッドmud
• 泥濘でいねいmud
• 泥んこどろんこmud
• 泥土でいどmud
• 泥地でいちmud
• ＭＵＤエム・ユー・ディーMUD
• ぬかるみmuddy place
• どべmud