“black” in Japanese is 黒, read koku, kuro (こく, くろ). It is a Grade 2 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 2 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 黒板 (blackboard).
What does 黒 mean?
黒いねこがいる。
| Kanji | 黒 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | black |
| Readings | こく, くろ |
| Grade | Grade 2 (Easy) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 黒板 (blackboard) |
黒 is read koku (こく) or kuro (くろ) depending on the word.
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side: