マメ
まめ
noun
blister; callus
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.
手にマメができた。
I got a blister on my hand.
新しい靴を履いたら足にマメができた。
I got blisters on my feet from wearing new shoes.
バットを振りすぎて、手のひらにマメがつぶれて血が出た。
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.
ギターを弾いていたら指先にマメができた。
I developed calluses on my fingertips from playing guitar.
鉄棒の練習で手にマメがたくさんある。
I have lots of calluses on my hands from practicing on the horizontal bar.
長年の農作業で手のマメがすっかり硬くなった。
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 (bean). The connection is that blisters and calluses resemble small beans in shape.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- マメができる: to get a blister/callus
- マメがつぶれる: a blister bursts
- マメが硬くなる: a callus hardens
- 手のマメ: blister/callus on the hand
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:
- 水膨れ: water blister — specifically a fluid-filled blister
- たこ: callus; corn — hardened skin, often on feet