黒: the kanji for black
黒 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means black. Below are its readings, 7 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
黒 is written in 11 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
黒 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 7 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
コク (koku)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黒板こくばん · kokuban | blackboard |
| 暗黒あんこく · ankoku | darkness |
くろ (kuro)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黒くろ · kuro | black |
| 黒字くろじ · kuroji | surplus; profit |
| 白黒しろくろ · shirokuro | black and white |
| 真っ黒まっくろ · makkuro | pitch black |
くろい (kuroi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 黒いくろい · kuroi | black |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 黒いかばんを探しています。Kuroi kaban o sagashite imasu.I'm looking for a black bag.
- 三年ぶりに黒字になりました。Sannen buri ni kuroji ni narimashita.We turned a profit for the first time in three years.
- 白黒で印刷してください。Shirokuro de insatsu shite kudasai.Please print in black and white.
- 面接には黒いスーツを着ていきます。Mensetsu ni wa kuroi sūtsu o kite ikimasu.I'll wear a black suit to the interview.
- 先生が黒板に字を書きました。Sensei ga kokuban ni ji o kakimashita.The teacher wrote on the blackboard.
- 日に焼けて真っ黒になりました。Hi ni yakete makkuro ni narimashita.I got really tanned in the sun.
Questions about 黒
How many strokes does 黒 have?
黒 is written in 11 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 黒?
The on readings are koku (コク). The kun readings are kuro (くろ), kuroi (くろい).
What does 白黒つける mean?
白黒つける (shirokuro tsukeru) means to settle something clearly, deciding which side is right. It comes from black and white stones in the game of go.
What JLPT level is 黒?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Colors and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 黒
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.