黒坊

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
黒	坊
くろ(ん) Grade: 2	ぼう Grade: S
kun'yomi	goon

Alternative spellings
黑坊 (kyūjitai) 黒ん坊

/kuroboː/ → /kuroɴbo/

Shift from older kurobō reading, with the medial /b/ undergoing emphasis by means of an excrescent nasal. Compare あまり (amari) and あんまり (anmari), どぶり (doburi) and どんぶり (donburi).

First attested in 1651.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くろんぼー [kùróńbóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ᵝɾõ̞mbo̞ː]

Noun

黒(くろん)坊(ぼう) • (kuronbō) ^{←くろんばう (kuronbau)?}

1. [from 1651] someone with temporarily dark skin, such as due to a suntan or being dirty
2. [from 1712] an ear of grain that has turned black due to infection by smut

   Synonym: 黒穂 (kurobo, literally “black + grain ear”)

3. [from 1764] (derogatory) a black person

   Synonym: (not derogatory) 黒人 (kokujin)

4. [from 1775] (theater, kabuki) a role in a later part of a performance, played by someone dressed in black as a stagehand; the person playing such a role

   Synonym: 黒子 (kuroko)

5. [from 1801] a monk dressed in black robes

   Coordinate term: 坊主 (bōzu, “monk”)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
黒	坊
くろ(ん) Grade: 2	ぼう > ぼ Grade: S
kun'yomi	irregular

Alternative spelling
黑坊 (kyūjitai)

/kuroɴboː/ → /kuroɴbo/

Shift from kuronbō reading, shortening the final vowel.

First attested in 1702.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くろんぼ [kùróńbó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ᵝɾõ̞mbo̞]

Noun

黒(くろん)坊(ぼ) • (kuronbo) 

1. [from 1702] (derogatory) a black person

   Synonym: (not derogatory) 黒人 (kokujin)

2. [from 1847] a cricket

   Synonym: 蟋蟀 (kōrogi)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
黒	坊
くろ Grade: 2	ぼう Grade: S
kun'yomi	goon

Alternative spelling
黑坊 (kyūjitai)

*/kurobau/ → /kurobɔː/ → /kuroboː/

Compound of 黒 (kuro, “black”) +‎ 坊 (bō, “boy”). First attested in the 1500s.

This reading appears to no longer be in use, and it is often either not included at all in modern Japanese dictionaries, or treated as an archaic additional reading.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くろぼー [kùróbóó] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ᵝɾo̞bo̞ː]

Noun

黒(くろ)坊(ぼう) • (kurobō) ^{←くろばう (kurobau)?}

1. [1500s–???] (archaic, derogatory) a black person