〜ぐるみ

Including All

Level 5Sounds Like gurumi

〜ぐるみ is an advanced suffix that attaches to nouns representing groups (like family or company) to mean 'the whole group together' or 'including everyone in the entity.' It often implies a sense of being 'wrapped up' in a situation.

How It Works

The suffix 〜ぐるみ is used to express that an entire entity—whether a social group or a physical object—is involved or included as a single unit.

Key Characteristics:

  • Collective Entities: It attaches to nouns representing groups (e.g., 家族, 会社, 地域) or physical entities (e.g., 土地, 身). It suggests that the entire entity is 'packaged' together in the action.
  • Nuance of 'Including Everything': It implies that nothing belonging to that entity is left out. For example, 土地ぐるみ（とちぐるみ） means 'including the land and everything on it.'
  • Idiomatic Use: The phrase 身ぐるみ（みぐるみ） is a must-know expression meaning 'everything on one's person,' often used in the context of being robbed or losing everything.
  • Positive vs. Negative: In positive contexts, it describes broad relationships (e.g., 家族ぐるみの付き合い). In negative contexts, it describes systemic issues (e.g., 組織ぐるみの隠蔽 - an organization-wide cover-up).

Grammatical Forms:
1. Noun + ぐるみで + Verb: Indicates the manner in which the group acts.
2. Noun + ぐるみの + Noun: Modifies another noun to show the scope of involvement.

Examples (4)

  1. 彼とは家族ぐるみの付き合いをしています。

    I have a relationship with him that involves our entire families.

    Word by Word: Him with, family-including relationship (object) doing am.

    This is a very common positive use, meaning the friendship isn't just between two people, but includes all family members.

  2. その不正は、一部の社員ではなく会社ぐるみで行われていた。

    That fraud wasn't just a few employees; it was carried out by the whole company.

    Word by Word: That fraud, part of employees not, company-including in was being done.

    Here, 会社ぐるみ（かいしゃぐるみ） emphasizes that the corruption was systemic and institutional, not an isolated incident.

  3. この村では、村ぐるみで伝統行事を守り続けている。

    In this village, the entire community works together to keep the traditional events alive.

    Word by Word: This village in, village-including in traditional events (object) protecting continuing.

    村ぐるみ（むらぐるみ） shows that every person in the village is involved in the preservation effort.

  4. 泥棒に遭って、身ぐるみ剥がされてしまった。

    I encountered a thief and was stripped of everything I had (including my clothes).

    Word by Word: Thief to encounter, body-including be stripped away (regret).

    身ぐるみ（みぐるみ） is a set idiomatic expression meaning 'everything on one's person,' usually used when someone is robbed of all possessions.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it with individual people instead of groups.

    田中さんぐるみで遊びに行きました。
    田中さんの家族ぐるみで遊びに行きました。

    〜ぐるみ must attach to a collective noun or an entity with multiple components. You cannot 'wrap up' a single person like Tanaka-san; you must refer to his family or group.

  • Confusing it with expressions for physical effort.

    家族ぐるみで引越しをした。
    家族総出で引越しをした。

    〜ぐるみ focuses on the scope of involvement or social connection. If you want to emphasize the physical effort or 'all hands on deck' aspect of a task like moving, use expressions like 総出（そうで） instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

〜ぐるみLevel 5Including All

Learn This First

〜ぐるみ is a suffix attached to nouns (like 家族 or 町) to indicate that the entire entity is included in the action. It functions similarly to a compound noun or an adverbial phrase, so a basic understanding of noun usage and compound words is necessary.

Words in This Pattern

ぐるみ