Japanese word

白黒

Pronunciation

Romajishirokuro

Meaning

  • nounblack and white

Example

昔の映画は白黒でした。mukashi no ei ga wa shiro kuro de shi ta

Old movies were in black and white.

Illustration for 白黒 (black and white)

More examples

この写真は白黒で印刷されています。ko no sha shin wa shiro kuro de in satsu sa re te i ma su

This photo is printed in black and white.

Core concept

Refers to something presented through the contrast of the two opposite colors, white and black, rather than a full range of colors.

Common phrases

  • 白黒をつけるshiro kuro o tsu ke ru

    determine right and wrong

  • 白黒写真shiro kuro sha shin

    black-and-white photograph

  • 白黒テレビshiro kuro te re bi

    black-and-white television

  • 白黒印刷shiro kuro in satsu

    black-and-white printing

Similar words

モノクロmonokuro: A visual work or image presented in monochrome, often with shades of gray.

Definition in Japanese

白色と黒色だけで構成された状態や作品。haku shoku to kuro iro da ke de kō sei sa re ta jō tai ya saku hin

Word origin

The compound 白黒 (shirokuro) joins 白 (shiro, "white") with 黒 (kuro, "black") to express the use or presence of only these two colors.

Usage tips

  • English uses black-and-white for both visual works and rigid arguments, but Japanese 白黒 (shirokuro) is also a direct label for monochrome media.

Other meanings

  • monochromenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 白黒化shirokurokaconversion to monochromenoun

Word lists with this word