Noun ずくめ

When to use

Formal, literary "entirely covered in/nothing but X" - describes a state entirely characterized by one quality (e.g. dressed all in black).

Explanation

「Noun + ずくめ」expresses that something consists entirely of that noun or is 'nothing but' that noun. It describes a situation with a predominance of one thing.

• 彼かれは最近さいきん、失敗しっぱいずくめだ。

  He has had nothing but failures recently.

  Kare wa saikin, shippai zukume da.

• この冬ふゆは雪ゆきずくめで大変たいへんだ。

  This winter has been nothing but snow, which is tough.

  Kono fuyu wa yuki zukume de taihen da.

• 彼かの話はなしは嘘うそずくめだった。

  His story was full of nothing but lies.

  Kare no hanashi wa uso zukume datta.

• 今日きょうの仕事しごとは忙いそがしさずくめだった。

  Today's work was nothing but constant busyness.

  Kyou no shigoto wa isogashisa zukume datta.

Totality (Entirely / Full Of / Covered In)

• Noun に限る~ni kagiruN1Expresses the idea that 'nothing but', 'nothing is better…
• ～っぱい〜ppaiN3Expresses fullness or completeness; 'full', 'full of'…
• ～だらけ〜darakeN2Indicates that something is full of or covered with a…
• Noun まみれ~mamireN1Expresses a state in which something is entirely covered…
• Noun + ぐるみ〜gurumiN1Describes 'entirely', 'all together', or 'as a whole group'.

Compare when to use each