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What is the Kanji for 'Black'? | 黒

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Black', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Black' is 黒.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Black

    Reading

    kunyomiくろ

    kuro

    onyomiこく

    koku

    Parts

    Fire (火)Hometown

    Example Word

    黒板: blackboard. The Japanese noun '黒板 (こくばん)' refers to a 'blackboard', a flat, typically dark-colored surface used for writing or drawing with chalk, commonly found in classrooms. It is a standard item in educational settings and is used by teachers to write lessons or instructions. Example sentences: The teacher wrote on the blackboard「先生は黒板に書きました」(せんせいはこくばんにかきました). Please clean the blackboard「黒板を消してください」(こくばんをけしてください). The word is composed of the kanji 黒 (くろ) meaning 'black' and 板 (いた) meaning 'board', reflecting its traditional appearance and function.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    11

    JLPT

    N4

    Grade

    2

    Frequency

    276

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Fire

    Radical Form Of

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hometown

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ink, Black ink

Words Using

This kanji is used in 6 words:

    word

    真っ黒

    Meaning

    Pitch black

    word

    Meaning

    Black

    word

    黒い

    Meaning

    Black

    word

    黒板

    Meaning

    Blackboard

    word

    黒字

    Meaning

    Profit

    word

    黒人

    Meaning

    Black person

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 10 kanji contain the part 灬 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Point

    kanji

    Meaning

    Horse

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bird

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heat, Temperature

    kanji

    Meaning

    Silent, Shut up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Commoner, Manifold

    kanji

    Meaning

    Intense, Violent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Roast

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 9 kanji contain the part 里 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Field

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reason

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heavy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measure, Quantity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Inside, Rear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Silent, Shut up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Juvenile

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bury

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rin, Thousandth

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 黒 mean?

黒 means 'Black'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N4 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.