1.
darkness, pitch-black
Complete darkness or absence of light. A literary term for deep, total darkness.
暗黒の世界が広がっていた。
A world of darkness spread before us.
洞窟の奥は暗黒に包まれていた。
The depths of the cave were enveloped in total darkness.
宇宙の暗黒物質は目に見えない。
Dark matter in the universe is invisible.
2.
dark, evil, corrupt (figurative)
A metaphorical sense referring to a period or state of evil, corruption, ignorance, or despair.
暗黒時代と呼ばれる時期があった。
There was a period called the Dark Ages.
組織の暗黒面が暴かれた。
The dark side of the organization was exposed.
戦争で国は暗黒の時代に突入し、人々は希望を失った。
The country plunged into a dark era due to war, and people lost hope.
USAGE:
A literary and dramatic word. Often used as a modifier: 暗黒時代 (dark age), 暗黒面 (dark side), 暗黒物質 (dark matter). More intense and literary than 暗い or 暗闇.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 暗黒時代: dark age
- 暗黒面: dark side
- 暗黒物質: dark matter
- 暗黒の世界: world of darkness
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 暗闇: darkness (physical, everyday)
- 闇: darkness, gloom (versatile, common)