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 — the noun "black," standing opposite 白 as "guilty" in the legal metaphor. Darkness grows into conspiracy — 黒幕 is the black figure behind the curtain, the hidden power, born from the black curtain and black-clad stagehands of the kabuki stage. 黒字 is profit written in black ink, set back-to-back with the red-ink 赤字. Kanji-reading kin: 黒 reads Korean 'heuk' (暗黒), Mandarin hēi.

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