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)

Related Words

Antonym: 白星(しろぼし) (win, victory)

Compare: 敗北(はいぼく) (defeat)

Compare: 負(ま)け (loss, defeat)

Antonym: 白星(しろぼし)を挙(あ)げる (to score a win)

general

Added 2026.3.25 13:47 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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