“Dark” in Japanese is 暗い (くらい), pronounced kurai.
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
Dark, and also gloomy for moods or people.
Example sentences
- 外はもう暗いです。そとはもうくらいです。It’s already dark outside.
- 暗い部屋で本を読まないでください。くらいへやでほんをよまないでください。Don’t read in a dark room.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 暗い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 暗い くらい | dark |
| Polite present | 暗いです くらいです | is dark |
| Negative | 暗くないです くらくないです | isn’t dark |
| Past | 暗かったです くらかったです | was dark |
| Past negative | 暗くなかったです くらくなかったです | wasn’t dark |
| て-form | 暗くて くらくて | dark and… |
| Adverb (く) | 暗く くらく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
Test yourself0/3
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say dark in Japanese?
Dark in Japanese is 暗い (くらい), pronounced “kurai”.
How do you write dark in Japanese?
It's written 暗い with kanji, or くらい in hiragana. Both are read kurai.
Is 暗い on the JLPT?
Yes. 暗い (kurai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.