まめ
mame
In Japanese, the word for blister is まめ (mame). Wiktionary also lists 水疱 (suihō).
Meaning: bubble on the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| まめ | mame | |
| 水疱 | suihō | [sɨiho̞ː] (narrow) |
The term refers to a bubble on the skin.
Which one should you use?
まめ is the common, everyday word used for a blister, often caused by friction. In contrast, 水疱 is a more technical or medical term for a blister or vesicle.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say you 'got' or 'developed' a blister, use the verb phrase まめができる.
How do you pronounce it?
mame
Did you know?
- In the context of traditional Japanese crafts or martial arts, developing まめ on the fingers is sometimes seen as a badge of hard work and dedication.
- There is a Japanese idiom まめな人 meaning a 'diligent' or 'industrious' person. This uses a different kanji but the same pronunciation as the word for blister.
- In casual speech, people may refer to a large blister as a 水ぶくれ, which emphasizes the 'swelling' aspect of the bubble.
Examples in context
- 足にまめができたんだ。I have a blister on my foot.This sentence is useful for expressing that you have a まめ on your foot.Tatoeba #139870 by bunbuku, translation #6710799 by CK
- 新しい靴のせいでまめができました。Atarashii kutsu no sei de mame ga dekimashita.I got a blister because of my new shoes.
- 手のひらにまめができて痛いです。Tenohira ni mame ga dekite itai desu.I have a blister on my palm and it hurts.
Example conversation
A young man shows his injured hand to a female friend.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、見て。手にまめができた。Yui, mite. Te ni mame ga dekita.Yui, look. I got a blister on my hand.
- 結衣 Yui大丈夫？すごく痛そうだね。Daijoubu? Sugoku itasou dane.Are you okay? It looks really painful.
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、少しだけ痛いよ。Un, sukoshi dake itai yo.Yeah, it hurts a little bit.
- 結衣 Yui消毒したほうがいいよ。Shoudoku shita hou ga ii yo.You should disinfect it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blister” translations and entries まめ, 水疱, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
