darkness

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: No on reading is listed, and the kun reading is やみ. It has 17 strokes. It appears in words for darkness and acting blindly.
• Basic usage: 闇 is read やみ and 闇雲 is read やみくも.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 闇 / 闇雲
  • 闇 means darkness and is read やみ. It refers to literal darkness or a hidden dark side.
  • 闇の中で遠くの明かりを探した。 means “I searched for a distant light in the darkness.”
  • 闇雲 means blindly or indiscriminately and is read やみくも. It describes acting blindly without first setting a goal or method.
  • 闇雲に走っても、出口にはたどり着けない。 means “Running blindly will not lead you to the exit.”