白黒(しろくろ)

しろくろ
noun
black and white; right and wrong
colorabstract
1. black and white, monochrome
The combination of the colors black and white. Used to describe photographs, films, or images without color.
白黒(しろくろ)の写真(しゃしん)が好(す)きだ。
I like black-and-white photographs.
この映画(えいが)は白黒(しろくろ)で撮影(さつえい)された。
This film was shot in black and white.
古(ふる)い白黒(しろくろ)テレビが祖父母(そふぼ)の家(いえ)にまだ残(のこ)っている。
An old black-and-white TV still remains at my grandparents' house.
2. right and wrong, guilt or innocence
A figurative use meaning the distinction between right and wrong, or whether something is true or false. Often used in the phrase 白黒(しろくろ)をつける (to settle/determine).
白黒(しろくろ)をつけよう。
Let's settle this once and for all.
この問題(もんだい)に白黒(しろくろ)をつけるのは難(むずか)しい。
It is difficult to determine right and wrong on this issue.
裁判(さいばん)で白黒(しろくろ)がはっきりするまで何(なに)も言(い)えない。
I can't say anything until the trial makes things clear.

Usage

Sense 1 is used as a noun modifier: 白黒(しろくろ)の写真(しゃしん) (black-and-white photo), 白黒(しろくろ)映画(えいが) (black-and-white film). Note the order is "white-black" in Japanese, opposite to English "black and white."

For sense 2, the key phrase is 白黒(しろくろ)をつける (to settle/determine guilt or innocence). 白(しろ) represents innocence and 黒(くろ) represents guilt.

Common collocations

Related Words

Antonym: フルカラー (full color)
general
Added 2026.2.26 21:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13642_shirokuro