Japanese kanji for 'black': 黒 and its meanings
The Japanese kanji for 'black' is 黒 (kuro), 11 strokes. As an adjective, it takes the form 黒い (kuroi). Figuratively, the character means 'dark, dishonest': 腹黒い (haraguroi) — literally 'with a black belly', meaning cunning. In names and nicknames, the reading 'kuro' is more common: 黒猫 (kuroneko — black cat), 黒髪 (kurogami — black hair).
In Japanese, color can function as an adjective, a noun, and a character assessment. Let's examine 黒 in all three roles — and also how it differs from 玄, the 'black' of philosophy.
How 黒 is used
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 黒くろ | kuro | Black color |
| 黒いくろい | kuroi | Black (adjective) |
| 黒猫くろねこ | kuroneko | Black cat |
| 真っ黒まっくろ | makkuro | Completely blackintensified with 真っ |
| 腹黒いはらぐろい | haraguroi | Cunningliterally 'with a black belly' |
| 黒字くろじ | kuroji | Profit'black figures' — the opposite of loss 赤字 |
Black and red in business language
黒字 means profit, 赤字 means loss: accountants wrote losses in red ink, and the expression stuck just like 'in the red' in English. This is one of the most common contexts for the character in the news.
Other 'black' characters and shades
- Meaning
- black
- Onyomi
- コク
- Kunyomi
- くろ、くろ.ずむ、くろ.い
- strokes
- 11
黒 — 11 strokes, with the 'fire' radical 灬 at the bottom: the color was associated with soot. Click 'Show stroke order'.
- 玄 (gen) — 'black' in a philosophical sense: deep, mysterious. Hence 玄関 — entrance, 'mysterious gate'.
- 漆黒 (shikkoku) — 'lacquer-black', a literary and very intense description.
- 黒白 (koku byaku) — 'black and white', meaning 'truth and falsehood': 黒白をつける — to settle the matter.
- In names and nicknames, 黒 is read 'kuro': 黒田 (Kuroda), 黒木 (Kuroki).
- What not to do: do not write 黑 — that is the Chinese variant of the character; in Japanese, 黒 is used.
Color as an adjective
黒, 白, 赤, 青 — four ancient colors that can act as adjectives directly: 黒い車 ('black car'). Others require the particle の: 緑の車 ('green car'), because 緑 is a noun meaning 'green'.
FAQ
How do you write 'black' in Japanese?
黒 (kuro), as an adjective — 黒い (kuroi). 11 strokes, with the 'fire' radical 灬 at the bottom.
What does 腹黒い mean?
'Cunning', literally 'with a black belly'. In Japanese, the belly is where true intentions are hidden.
Why is profit called 'black'?
Losses were written in red ink (赤字), profits in black (黒字). The expression stuck in business language.
Are 黒 and 黑 the same?
They are the same character in different forms. In Japanese, 黒 is written; 黑 is the Chinese variant.
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