黒星(くろぼし)

くろぼし
noun
loss; defeat (in sports); black mark
1. loss; defeat (in sports or competition)
A defeat or loss, originally from the filled black circle (●) used to mark losses in sumo records and other competition results. Widely used in sports and competitive contexts.
今日(きょう)は黒星(くろぼし)だった。
Today was a loss.
横綱(よこづな)がまさかの黒星(くろぼし)を喫(きっ)した。
The grand champion suffered an unexpected defeat.
開幕(かいまく)から三(さん)連続(れんぞく)黒星(くろぼし)でチームの士気(しき)が下(さ)がっている。
Team morale is down after three consecutive losses from the start of the season.
2. black mark; failure; blot on one's record
A failure or blemish on one's record, reputation, or track record. Used figuratively beyond sports.
経歴(けいれき)に黒星(くろぼし)がつく。
It puts a black mark on your record.
このプロジェクトの失敗(しっぱい)は大(おお)きな黒星(くろぼし)だ。
The failure of this project is a big black mark.
ここで黒星(くろぼし)をつけたくないから、全力(ぜんりょく)で取(と)り組(く)もう。
I don't want to get a mark against me here, so let's give it everything we've got.

From the notation system used in sumo and other sports where ● (black circle) marks a loss and ○ (white circle) marks a win. The opposite is 白星(しろぼし) (win).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 黒星(くろぼし)を喫(きっ)する — to suffer a defeat (formal)
  • 黒星(くろぼし)がつく — to get a loss/black mark on one's record
  • 黒星(くろぼし)先行(せんこう) — more losses than wins
  • 連続(れんぞく)黒星(くろぼし) — consecutive losses

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 白星(しろぼし) — win, victory (opposite)
  • 敗北(はいぼく) — defeat (formal, general)
  • 負(ま)け — loss, defeat (casual)
general
Added 2026.3.25 13:47
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