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What is the Kanji for 'Darkness'? | 暗

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

The Japanese Kanji for 'Darkness' is 暗.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Darkness

    Reading

    kunyomiくら

    kura

    onyomiあん

    an

    Parts

    Sound Day, Sun

    Example Word

    真っ暗: pitch dark. The Japanese adjectival noun '真っ暗 (まっくら)' means 'pitch-dark'. It is used to describe a state of complete darkness, where no light is visible. This word can be used to describe physical spaces, such as rooms or outdoor areas, as well as metaphorical situations, like a hopeless or unclear future. For example: the room is pitch-dark「部屋は真っ暗だ」(へやはまっくらだ). The night was pitch-dark「夜は真っ暗だった」(よるはまっくらだった). The word '真っ暗' often conveys a sense of intensity or extremity in the darkness, emphasizing the absence of light.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    13

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    3

    Frequency

    341

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

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

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sound

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

Words Using

This kanji is used in 4 words:

    word

    真っ暗

    Meaning

    Pitch dark

    word

    暗い

    Meaning

    Dark, Gloomy

    word

    暗記

    Meaning

    Memorization

    word

    薄暗い

    Meaning

    Dim

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 4 kanji contain the part 音 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Idea

    kanji

    Meaning

    Echo, Reverberate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rhyme

    kanji

    Meaning

    Darkness

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 61 kanji contain the part 日 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Early, Fast

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sound

    kanji

    Meaning

    White

    kanji

    Meaning

    Time, Hour

    kanji

    Meaning

    Weekday

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spring

    kanji

    Meaning

    Interval, Space

    kanji

    Meaning

    East

    kanji

    Meaning

    Star

    kanji

    Meaning

    Gate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Write

    kanji

    Meaning

    Clear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bright

    kanji

    Meaning

    Electricity

    kanji

    Meaning

    Evening, Nightfall

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hot

    kanji

    Meaning

    Someone

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Reflect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Simple, Single

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yesterday, Previous

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old times

    kanji

    Meaning

    Report

    kanji

    Meaning

    Music, Bend

    kanji

    Meaning

    Universal, Widespread

    kanji

    Meaning

    Easy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Free time, Spare time

    kanji

    Meaning

    Decameron

    kanji

    Meaning

    Warm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thick, Kind

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shining

    kanji

    Meaning

    Scene

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hoist, Display, Hold up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Vague, Desert

    kanji

    Meaning

    Violent, Outburst

    kanji

    Meaning

    Livelihood

    kanji

    Meaning

    Rice plant

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cloudy

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ascend, Rise up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thirst, Parched

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hoarse, Shout at

    kanji

    Meaning

    Purport, Delicious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Old, Past

    kanji

    Meaning

    Brown, Woollen kimono

    kanji

    Meaning

    Calendar, Almanac

    kanji

    Meaning

    A while, Temporarily

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fragrance

    kanji

    Meaning

    Risk

    kanji

    Meaning

    Crystal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Descendants, Insects

    kanji

    Meaning

    Right, Absolutely

    kanji

    Meaning

    Audience with the, Audience

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

    kanji

    Meaning

    Turtle

    kanji

    Meaning

    Formerly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark, Foolish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dark, Not clear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Effulgent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 暗 mean?

暗 means 'Darkness'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

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