黒い
kuroi[kɯ̟ɾo̞i]
The English word "black" is translated into Japanese as 黒い (kuroi). Wiktionary also lists 黒色の (kokushoku no).
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 黒い | kuroi | [kɯ̟ɾo̞i] (narrow) |
| 黒色の | kokushoku no |
The primary way to express the color black is through the adjective 黒い, which describes objects that absorb all light. Related to this, you may use the nouns 黒 or 黒色 to refer to the color itself or the term 黒人 when referring to a dark-skinned person.
Which one should you use?
The adjective 黒い is used to modify a noun directly, such as in the phrase 黒い車 (black car). In contrast, 黒 is the noun form used to name the color itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 黒い is an i-adjective, which means it is used to describe the properties of a noun. The noun form 黒 functions as a name for the color.
How do you pronounce it?
kuroi
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 黒 is used in the phrase 黒歴史 ('black history') to refer to an embarrassing past that someone wishes to erase.
- In certain contexts, such as describing a person's reputation or an investigation, the word 黒 can signify 'guilt' or 'being in the wrong' when used in opposition to 白 (white/innocence).
- The kanji used for 'black', 黒, is composed of elements that traditionally suggested the appearance of charred or burnt material.
Examples in context
- この車は黒い。This car is black.This sentence demonstrates the use of the adjective 黒い to describe a car.Tatoeba #5845176 by joejames, translation #882671 by CM
- 黒いのが私のよ。The black one is mine.This sentence shows how 黒い can be used to identify a specific object.Tatoeba #9043986 by small_snow, translation #823527 by sacredceltic
- 黒い服の女をみた。I saw a woman in black.This sentence illustrates how 黒い can modify clothing in a description.Tatoeba #172988 by bunbuku, translation #241485 by CK
- 66 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are looking at bags in a store.
- 結衣 Yui陽太、この黒いバッグはどうかな？Yōta, kono kuroi baggu wa dō kana?Yota, what do you think of this black bag?
- 陽太 Yotaいいと思うよ。とてもかっこいいね。Ii to omou yo. Totemo kakkoii ne.I think it's good. It's very cool.
- 結衣 Yui本当？じゃあ、これにするね。Hontō? Jaa, kore ni suru ne.Really? Then, I'll take this one.
- 陽太 Yotaうん、結衣によく似合うと思うよ。Un, Yui ni yoku niau to omou yo.Yeah, I think it will suit you well, Yui.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries 黒い, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 黒い, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
