1The adjective meaning black — a color that reflects little to no light.
彼女は黒いコートを着て町を歩いていた。
She was walking through town wearing a black coat.
黒いバッグが洋服によく合う。
A black bag goes well with clothes.
黒いインクで名前を書いてください。
Please write your name in black ink.
夜空には黒い雲が広がっていた。
Black clouds spread across the night sky.
2Dark or blackish in color; also used to describe skin that has become darker from sun exposure.
彼は夏の間に日焼けして顔が黒くなった。
He got sun-tanned over the summer and his face turned dark.
夕方の海は黒い帯のように見える。
The sea at dusk looks like a dark band.
毎日外で練習しているので、選手たちの腕は黒い。
Since they practice outside every day, the players' arms are darkly tanned.
3Suspicious, criminal, or illicit — used of a suspect in a case, or of shady/illegal dealings such as illicit money.
警察はその男が黒いと見て捜査を進めている。
The police, suspecting the man is guilty, are proceeding with the investigation.
黒い金の流れを断つために調査が行われた。
An investigation was carried out to cut off the flow of illicit money.
あの会社には黒い噂がついて回っている。
That company is dogged by shady rumors.
4Darkened and dirty — sooted or covered in grime, describing something discolored to black by dirt.
仕事の後で手が真っ黒になった。
After work my hands were completely black with grime.
暖炉のせいで天井が黒くなっている。
The ceiling has been blackened by the fireplace.
古いフライパンの底が黒い。
The bottom of the old frying pan is black with grime.
5Evil or wicked; used figuratively to describe a dark, malicious heart or intentions.
その小説には黒い心を持つ登場人物が描かれている。
That novel depicts characters with dark, wicked hearts.
彼は黒い野望を隠して笑顔で近づいてきた。
He approached with a smile, hiding his wicked ambitions.
6Inauspicious or ill-boding, used figuratively of something ominous. This usage is somewhat old-fashioned in modern Japanese and not very common.
何か黒い予感がして、出発を一日延ばした。
I had some ominous feeling, so I delayed my departure by a day.