闇(やみ)

やみ
noun
darkness; black market; illicit dealings
1. darkness; the dark
Deep darkness or absence of light. Can also refer figuratively to a dark, hidden, or unknowable aspect of something.
闇(やみ)の中(なか)を歩(ある)く。
I walk in the darkness.
事件(じけん)の闇(やみ)は深(ふか)い。
The dark side of the case runs deep.
夜(よる)の闇(やみ)に紛(まぎ)れて逃(に)げた。
He escaped under cover of the night's darkness.
2. black market; illicit dealings
Illegal or underground activities, especially buying and selling goods outside legal channels. Used as a prefix to mean "illegal" or "underground."
闇(やみ)市場(しじょう)で取引(とりひき)された。
It was traded on the black market.
戦後(せんご)は闇(やみ)市(いち)で食料(しょくりょう)を手(て)に入(い)れる人(ひと)が多(おお)かった。
After the war, many people obtained food at black markets.
闇(やみ)バイトに手(て)を出(だ)して逮捕(たいほ)された若者(わかもの)が増(ふ)えている。
More and more young people are being arrested for getting involved in illegal part-time jobs.

SENSE 1 (darkness):
Literal darkness, but also commonly used figuratively for the hidden, corrupt, or unknowable side of things.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS (sense 1):

SENSE 2 (black market / illicit):
Used as a prefix meaning "illegal" or "underground."

COMMON COMPOUNDS (sense 2):

Related Words

Antonym: 光(ひかり) (light)
Compare: 暗黒(あんこく) (darkness, pitch-black, dark (figurative))
Compare: 暗黒街(あんこくがい) (underworld)
Compare: 暗中(あんちゅう) (in the dark)
general
Added 2026.3.2 15:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14500/14528_yami