“Black” in Japanese is 黒い (くろい), pronounced kuroi.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Black. The noun is 黒 (kuro). Black is the colour of formal and mourning clothes.
Example sentences
- 黒い猫がいます。くろいねこがいます。There’s a black cat.
- 黒いかばんを買いました。くろいかばんをかいました。I bought a black bag.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 黒い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 黒い くろい | black |
| Polite present | 黒いです くろいです | is black |
| Negative | 黒くないです くろくないです | isn’t black |
| Past | 黒かったです くろかったです | was black |
| Past negative | 黒くなかったです くろくなかったです | wasn’t black |
| て-form | 黒くて くろくて | black and… |
| Adverb (く) | 黒く くろく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say black in Japanese?
Black in Japanese is 黒い (くろい), pronounced “kuroi”.
How do you write black in Japanese?
It's written 黒い with kanji, or くろい in hiragana. Both are read kuroi.
Is 黒い on the JLPT?
Yes. 黒い (kuroi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.