くまなく

く

ま

な

く

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

adverb

all over; everywhere; in every corner

usually written using kana alone

Used when searching, looking, or spreading something thoroughly across an entire area, leaving no part untouched.

警けい察さつは部屋へやをくまなく調しらべた。
The police searched every corner of the room.

彼かれ

は

世せ

界かい

中じゅう

を

くまなく

旅たび

し

た

。

He traveled all over the world.

2

adverb

brightly; clearly

usually written using kana alone

Rare literary use, often describing light or visibility spreading everywhere without shadow. Modern Japanese more commonly uses 明るく or はっきり.

月つき明あかりが庭にわをくまなく照てらしていた。
The moonlight illuminated the garden brightly, leaving no shadow.

Written forms

くまなくUsage80%
Usually written in kana. The kanji spelling 隈なく is also used but less common.
隈くまなくUsage19%
Kanji spelling; 隈 means 'corner' or 'shadow', giving the literal sense of 'without a corner'.
隈くま無なくUsage1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not commonly used.

Kanji

隈corner, nook, recess
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

すみずみ
すみずみ also means 'every corner', but is a noun often used with まで (すみずみまで). くまなく is an adverb emphasizing thoroughness of an action.
あまねく
あまねく means 'widely' or 'universally', often used in formal or literary contexts. くまなく focuses on spatial thoroughness without gaps.

Etymology

Derived from 隈 (kuma, 'corner' or 'shadow') + なく (naku, adverbial form of ない, 'not'). Literally 'without a corner', meaning 'everywhere, leaving no part untouched'.