How to say "muddy" in Japanese

• 泥まみれどろまみれ
  no-adjectiveA less common word covering 'muddy' in the sense of covered or caked with mud — a child or clothes plastered with mud after playing or working in it.
  そのはしごは泥塗どろまみれだった。↗

  The ladder was covered with mud.
• 泥状でいじょう
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveDescribes something in a mud-like state, as when ground or a road has turned to mud; it names the condition itself and is a less common way to say 'muddy'.
• どろり
  adverb (with と)An onomatopoeic word for thick, gooey liquids; its 'muddy' sense describes a thick consistency, as of muddy water or a heavy soup, rather than something covered in mud.
• ぐしゃぐしゃ
  na-adjective, adverb (with と), suru verbRarely the word you want for 'muddy': it describes things soaked, drenched, or sopping wet — clothes drenched by rain, say — turning soggy rather than muddy.
  雨あめがひどく降ふったのでグラウンドはぐしゃぐしゃだ。↗

  It rained heavily, so the playground is muddy.
• どろどろCommon
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveThe common onomatopoeic choice for 'muddy', covering muddy water or ground and things dirty with oil or grease; usually written in kana alone.

Use 「どろどろ」 as the common all-purpose word for muddy things; 「泥まみれ」 for people or things caked with mud, 泥状 for a mud-like state, 「どろり」 for thick, gooey liquids, and 「ぐしゃぐしゃ」 only for sogginess.

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

• 泥まみれどろまみれmuddy
• 泥状でいじょうmuddy
• どろりthick (of a liquid)
• ぐしゃぐしゃsoggy
• どろどろmuddy
• どすmuddy
• 泥んこどろんこmuddy