Black in Japanese
"black" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
黒
kuro
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "black". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
黒 is black. 玄 is the darker, older word — the black of deep water and the night sky, and the 玄 of 玄関 (entrance) and 玄人 (expert, one who has gone deep). 墨 is the black of sumi ink, which is why it names the ink stick and the art made with it.
Top pick
black
Reading: koku
11 strokes · dark
Where it comes from
Simplified form. Window blackened by soot.
What it carries
Black, darkness, evil. '黒' also represents mystery and dignity.
Related kanji for "black"
black
gen · mysterious, dark
Shape of twisted thread. Deep.
black
boku · dark
Composed of black and earth. Black earth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for black?
The most common kanji for "black" is 黒, read as koku. It means black. Related kanji: 玄 (black), 墨 (black).
How many strokes does 黒 have?
黒 has 11 strokes.