暗黒・闇黒|あんこくankoku[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjective, na-adjectivedarkness
   私は今いままさに最後さいごの旅路たびじにつき、暗黒あんこくへと一大いちだい飛躍ひやくしようとしている。↗

   I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.

• Synonym真っ暗まっくらCasualColloquial and common, meaning pitch-dark or, figuratively, a hopeless future; 「暗黒」 is more written and mostly a metaphor for dark ages.
• Synonym暗闇くらやみNeutralThe everyday word for the dark, or a place light does not reach; 「暗黒」 is mostly used figuratively.
• Synonym闇やみNeutralDarkness, but also the black market and behind-the-scenes dealings, as in 「闇取引」; it has a much wider range of uses than 「暗黒」.
• SynonymダークNeutralThe loanword 「ダーク」covers dark colours and a dark side, often for colours or character settings; 「暗黒」is more written in tone.
• Synonym黒闇こくあんWrittenPitch darkness, and also the name of a Buddhist deity of darkness; rare even in writing — in everyday speech say 「暗闇」.
• Synonym真っ暗闇まっくらやみCasualColloquial 「真っ暗闇」stresses total darkness — you cannot see your hand in front of you — and points to concrete places; 「暗黒」is more written and figurative.
• Synonym暗がりくらがりNeutralA dark place or time, or a spot hidden from view; it centres on location, while 「暗黒」 is mostly figurative.
• Synonym冥暗めいあんWrittenA rare written word for gloom, tinged with the netherworld; in daily life say 「暗闇」.
• Synonym暗さくらさNeutralThe noun 「暗さ」measures how dark something is and can be abstract, as in 「心の暗さ」; 「暗黒」is stronger and mostly a metaphor for dark ages.
• Related薄暗いうすぐらいNeutralThe adjective 「薄暗い」means dim, faintly lit; it stresses poor light and is far milder than 「暗黒」.
• Related陰気いんきNeutralA gloomy personality or atmosphere: it is about mood, never light, whereas 「暗黒」 can mean actual darkness.
• Related暗いくらいNeutralThe basic adjective 「暗い」has the widest range — dark, depressed, or a bleak future — and is the most common way to say dark.
• Related真っ黒まっくろNeutralPitch black as a colour rather than an absence of light, as in 「真っ黒な服」.
• Relatedほの暗いほのぐらいNeutralDusky dimness with a little light still showing, with a literary flavour; far lighter in degree than 「暗黒」.
• Related陰鬱いんうつWrittenWritten 「陰鬱」describes a depressed, gloomy state of mind; it concerns mood, not the absence of light.
• Related小暗いおぐらいWrittenSlightly dark or dim, and rare even in writing; far lighter in degree than 「暗黒」.
• Related陰気くさいいんきくさいCasualColloquial 「陰気くさい」calls something or someone dreary with a hint of dislike; it is about atmosphere or manner, not light.
• Related陰々滅々いんいんめつめつWrittenWritten 「陰々滅々」describes a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere that weighs on the spirit, not literal darkness.
• Antonym光明こうみょうWrittenAntonym 「光明」means bright light and, figuratively, hope — the counterpart to the darkness and hopelessness of 「暗黒」.
• Antonym明るさあかるさNeutralAntonym 「明るさ」is the degree of brightness or a cheerful character, standing against the darkness and despair of 「暗黒」.

「暗黒」 is the weighty word for darkness: the literal blackness of outer space, and, figuratively, a dark era or the criminal underworld, as in 「暗黒時代」「暗黒街」. For ordinary darkness say 「暗闇」 or 「真っ暗」; for shady, behind-the-scenes dealings say 「闇」. The other words cover dimness, gloomy moods or colour, and the antonym is 「光明」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 光ひかりがなく暗くらい状態じょうたい。
2. 現況げんきょうや将来しょうらいの見通みとおしがつかず、心理的しんりてきな不安ふあんを感かんじるさま。悪あくがはびこるなどして希望きぼうが持もてないこと。失敗しっぱいが続つづくなどして極度きょくどに自信じしんを失うしなった状態じょうたい。
3. 未知みちなこと。実態じったいがよくわからないこと。