Dark in Japanese: kurai, explained with its major conjugations

How to say “dark” in Japanese

Japanese people would say “kurai”. It is the Japanese word for ‘dark’. In this blog post, I will explain this word and its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. Let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “kurai”
  • Example #1: how to say “dark” in Japanese
• Nai form of “kurai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not dark” in Japanese
• Ta form of “kurai”
  • Example #3: how to use the past tense form of “kurai”
• Te form of “kurai”
  • Example #4: how to use “kurai” before another adjective
• Ba form of “kurai”
  • Example #5: how to use “kurakereba”
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “kurai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kurai”.

• kurai – 暗い (くらい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘dark’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe low-light conditions, no-light conditions, or something dark. So, this word corresponds well to the English adjective, “dark”.

Its definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “dark” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ano – あの : a determiner used before a noun which refers to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “kage” to say “that shadow” in Japanese.
• kage – 影 (かげ) : a noun meaning ‘shadow’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this is used after the noun phrase, “ano kage”, to make the subject in the sentence.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree, meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘pretty’, ‘quite’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this is used before “kurai” to emphasize its meaning.

This is a typical usage of “kurai”. When we want to say “dark” in Japanese, this word would be a very good choice. In this example, it works as a complement. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier. So, we can say “kurai kage” to mean ‘a dark shadow’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain major conjugations of “kurai”. The first one is “kurakunai”.

Nai form of “kurai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kurakunai”.

• kurakunai – 暗くない (くらくない) : the nai form of “kurai”, meaning ‘not dark’ in Japanese.

This nai form consists of the following two parts:

• kuraku – 暗く (くらく) : one conjugation of “kurai”. This can have the better connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two components, we can understand that “kurakunai” is literally the nai form of “kurai” and means ‘not dark’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not dark” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• soto – 外 (そと) : a noun meaning ‘the outside’. This can also work like an adverb.

This is a typical usage of “kurakunai”. When we want to say “not dark” in Japanese, this nai form would be a very good choice.

Ta form of “kurai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kurakatta”.

• kurakatta – 暗かった (くらかった) : the ta form of “kurai”, working as its past tense form. So, this means ‘was dark’ or ‘were dark’ in Japanese.

This ta form consists of the following two parts:

• kurakat – 暗かっ (くらかっ) : one conjugation of “kurai”. This can have the better connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ta form.

From these two components, we can understand that “kurakatta” is literally the ta form of “kurai”. In Japanese, ta forms of verbs and adjectives can work as their past tense forms. So, we can say “kurakatta” to mean ‘was dark’ or ‘were dark’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this ta form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to use the past tense form of “kurai”

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• asa – 朝 (あさ) : a noun meaning ‘morning’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kurakatta”. When we want to say “was dark” in Japanese, this ta form would be a very good choice.

Te form of “kurai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kurakute”.

• kurakute – 暗くて (くらくて) : the te form of “kurai”, meaning ‘dark’ in Japanese.

This te form consists of the following two parts:

• kuraku – 暗く (くらく) : one conjugation of “kurai”. This can have the better connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

A te form of an adjective can have a smooth connection with another adjective or a verb. So, “kurakute” is very useful when we want to use adjectives in a row. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to use “kurai” before another adjective

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• yoru – 夜 (よる) : a noun meaning ‘night’ in Japanese.
• samui – 寒い (さむい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cold’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kurakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “samui”. When we want to use “kurai” before another adjective or a verb, its te form is useful.

Ba form of “kurai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “kurakereba”.

• kurakereba – 暗ければ (くらければ) : the ba form of “kurai”, used to make a conditional clause with the meaning of ‘dark’ in Japanese.

This ba form consists of the following two parts:

• kurakere – 暗けれ (くらけれ) : one conjugation of “kurai”. This can have the better connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

In Japanese, ba forms of verbs and adjectives can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kurakereba” to make a conditional clause with the meaning of ‘dark’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to use “kurakereba”

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “soto” to make the subject word in the conditional clause.
• akari – 灯り (あかり) : a noun meaning ‘light’ or ‘flashlight’ in Japanese.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “akari” to make the object word in the second clause.
• tsukat – 使っ (つかっ) : one conjugation of the verb, “tsukau”, which means ‘to use’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “kurakute”. In this example, this is used after “tsukat” to make its te form, “tsukat te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – ください : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this is used after the te-formed verb, “tsukat te”, to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “kurakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause which means ‘if it’s dark outside’. When we want to make a conditional clause with the meaning of ‘dark’ in Japanese, this ba form is useful.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the i-adjective, “kurai”, and its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kurai – 暗い (くらい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘dark’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• kurakunai – 暗くない (くらくない) : the nai form of “kurai”, meaning ‘not dark’ in Japanese.
• kurakatta – 暗かった (くらかった) : the ta form of “kurai”, working as its past tense form. So, this means ‘was dark’ or ‘were dark’ in Japanese.
• kurakute – 暗くて (くらくて) : the te form of “kurai”, meaning ‘dark’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kurai” before another adjective, this form is useful.
• kurakereba – 暗ければ (くらければ) : the ba form of “kurai”, used to make a conditional clause with the meaning of ‘dark’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.