黒い雨
kuroi ame
The English phrase "black rain" is translated into Japanese as 黒い雨 (kuroi ame).
In a Japanese context, 黒い雨 specifically refers to the radioactive fallout that fell after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Meaning: radioactive rain (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective 黒い (kuroi), meaning 'black' and the noun 雨 (ame), meaning 'rain'.
How do you pronounce it?
kuroi ame
Did you know?
- The term 黒い雨 is used in Japanese legal proceedings to determine eligibility for health benefits for survivors of the atomic bombings.
- Because the phrase is so tied to a specific tragedy, using it to describe an ordinary rainy day would be considered extremely insensitive or even dark humor in Japan.
- In some Japanese accounts, 黒い雨 is described as having a sticky or oily texture, which is why the phrase evokes a tactile sense of horror.
Examples in context
- 去年の夏、広島で黒い雨が降りました。Last summer, there was black rain in Hiroshima.
- 昭和20年8月6日、広島に原爆が投下された後、原爆性黒い雨が降りました。On August 6, 1945, after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, there was black rain resulting from the nuclear explosion.
- 黒い雨が降りました。Kuroi ame ga furimashita.Black rain fell.
- あの黒い雨はとても危険です。Ano kuroi ame wa totemo kiken desu.That black rain is very dangerous.
- 黒い雨の被害を調べます。Kuroi ame no higai o shirabemasu.I will investigate the damage from the black rain.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a history documentary in a library.
- 大翔 Hirotoあの映画には黒い雨が出てきました。Ano eiga ni wa kuroi ame ga dete kimashita.Black rain appeared in that movie.
- 陽葵 Himariとても悲しい内容でしたね。Totemo kanashii naiyou deshita ne.It was a very sad story, wasn't it?
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵さんは、あの事実を知っていましたか？Himari-san wa, ano jijitsu o shitte imashita ka?Himari, did you know about that fact?
- 陽葵 Himariいえ, 初めて聞きました。Ie, hajimete kikimashita.No, it was the first time I heard it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black rain” translations and entries 黒い雨, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
