マメ

まめ
noun
blister; callus
health
1. blister
A fluid-filled bubble on the skin caused by friction, heat, or repeated pressure. Commonly occurs on the hands from gripping tools or on the feet from walking or ill-fitting shoes.
手(て)にマメができた。
I got a blister on my hand.
新(あたら)しい靴(くつ)を履(は)いたら足(あし)にマメができた。
I got blisters on my feet from wearing new shoes.
バットを振(ふ)りすぎて、手(て)のひらにマメがつぶれて血(ち)が出(で)た。
I swung the bat so much that the blisters on my palms burst and bled.
2. callus; corn
A thickened, hardened area of skin that develops from repeated friction or pressure over time.
ギターを弾(ひ)いていたら指先(ゆびさき)にマメができた。
I developed calluses on my fingertips from playing guitar.
鉄棒(てつぼう)の練習(れんしゅう)で手(て)にマメがたくさんある。
I have lots of calluses on my hands from practicing on the horizontal bar.
長年(ながねん)の農作業(のうさぎょう)で手(て)のマメがすっかり硬(かた)くなった。
After years of farm work, the calluses on my hands have become completely hard.

Usually written in katakana (マメ) or hiragana (まめ) to distinguish from 豆(まめ) (bean). The connection is that blisters and calluses resemble small beans in shape.

Common collocations

Usage

The distinction between blister (fluid-filled) and callus (hardened skin) depends on context. Fresh マメ from short-term friction are blisters; long-term マメ from repeated activity become calluses.

Similar words

  • 水膨(みずぶく)れ: water blister — specifically a fluid-filled blister
  • たこ: callus; corn — hardened skin, often on feet

Related Words

Compare: 蛸(たこ) (callus)
general
Added 2026.4.6 4:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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