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暗
“dark / dim” in Japanese is 暗, read an, kura (あん, くら). It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 暗い (dark).
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What does 暗 mean?
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夜になると暗くなる。
よるになるとくらくなる。It gets dark at night.
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 暗 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | dark / dim |
| Readings | あん, くら |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 暗い (dark) |
How to read 暗
暗 is read an (あん) or kura (くら) depending on the word.
Words with 暗
- 暗いdark / dim
- 暗闇
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Kanji read the same way as 暗
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
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Updated: 2026-08-28