黒

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 黒のスーツが似合います。▶ —
   A black suit suits you.
2. 彼は黒だと判定された。▶ —
   He was judged guilty.

Collocations

Mnemonic

黒 kuro — noun "black". Symmetric to 白 in the legal metaphor (guilty). Darkness → conspiracy extension: 黒幕 (kuromaku, "black curtain") = the mastermind behind the scenes — originally the black curtain and black-clad stagehands of kabuki theater. 黒字 (kuroji, "black figures") = accounting profit, opposite of 赤字 (akaji, loss in red ink). A native color word pushed into workplace and political metaphor.

Quick check

1. Etymology and modern meaning of 黒幕?

   • Kabuki's black backdrop → behind-the-scenes mastermind
   • Black-cloth thief
   • Dark tomb → the dead
   • Black suit → politician