What does 暗 mean in Japanese?
暗 means “dark” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 暗い (dark), 暗記 (memorization), and 暗号 (code; cipher).
For learners, the key is to study 暗 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: アン (an)
Kun’yomi: くら-い (kura-i)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 暗 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
暗 is not limited to one English translation. In 暗い (くらい), it means dark; in 暗記 (あんき), it points to memorization; and in 暗号 (あんごう), it is used for code; cipher. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 暗い（くらい / kurai） — dark
- 暗記（あんき / anki） — memorization
- 暗号（あんごう / angō） — code; cipher
- 暗室（あんしつ / anshitsu） — darkroom
- 明暗（めいあん / meian） — light and dark
- 暗闇（くらやみ / kurayami） — darkness
Example Sentences
-
部屋が暗いので電気をつけます。
へやがくらいのででんきをつけます。 / Heya ga kurai node denki o tsukemasu.
The room is dark, so I will turn on the light.
-
単語を暗記しました。
たんごをあんきしました。 / Tango o anki shimashita.
I memorized the vocabulary words.
-
暗号を解くのは難しいです。
あんごうをとくのはむずかしいです。 / Angō o toku no wa muzukashii desu.
Solving the code is difficult.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 暗い (くらい / kurai) because it keeps the core meaning of 暗 clear. Then add 暗記 and 暗号 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 暗 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
暗 means “dark” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 暗い, 暗記, and 暗号.