Japanese word

黒

Pronunciation

Romajikuro

Meaning

  • nounblack

Example

このかばんは黒です。ko no ka ba n wa kuro de su

This bag is black.

Illustration for 黒 (black)

More examples

子どもが黒で絵を描きました。ko do mo ga kuro de e o ega ki ma shi ta

The child drew a picture in black.

Core concept

Describes 黒 (kuro, "black") as a very dark color that absorbs most visible light and gives objects a clear, solid appearance.

Common phrases

  • 黒の帽子kuro no bō shi

    black hat

  • 黒を使うkuro o tsuka u

    use black

  • 黒にするkuro ni su ru

    make it black

Similar words

ブラックburakku: A loanword meaning the color black, common in product names and some everyday expressions.

Definition in Japanese

光をほとんど反射せず、最も暗く見える色。hikari o ho to n do han sha se zu motto mo kura ku mi e ru iro

Word origin

The native Japanese color word 黒 (kuro, "black") is attested in Old Japanese, and the Chinese character for black was later adopted to write it.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English, Japanese can use 黒 (kuro, "black") as a noun in このかばんは黒です (kono kaban wa kuro desu), while 黒い (kuroi, "black") comes before the noun it describes.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word