midori no kurokami (緑の黒髪)

English translation: raven-black hair

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Japanese term or phrase:	midori no kurokami (緑の黒髪)
English translation:	raven-black hair
Entered by:	LEXICON KK

15:49 Apr 5, 2002

Japanese to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary

Japanese term or phrase: midori no kurokami (緑の黒髪)

No context.
What does this mean? Why is the hair green? How can I use it?

rya (X)

raven-black hair

Explanation:
midori no kurokami (緑の黒髪) is a old-school Japanese term which has the meaning of "raven-black hair" in English. To be more specific, it has the nuance and meaning of "beautiful/polished/lustrous/glossy black-hair."

The reason why "midori" here is used, is because "midori" also has the secondary meaning of "黒くつやのある色。多く毛髪にいう。" Please take a look at the links for reference of this.

As for usage of the phrase, you can use it refer to people with beautiful black hair. Although, don't be surprised if the Japanese person doesn't know what you're talking about.
(^_^;
For it's not a commonly used word in today's younger generation where a good majority of the people have dyed their hair.

http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/cgi-bin/dict_search.cgi?MT=�Фι�ȱ...

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Note added at 2002-04-05 19:13:42 (GMT)
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I didn¥'t notice the same question was posted two months ago.
Here is the link for that:

http://www.proz.com/?sp=h&eid_c=25114&id=144661&keyword=mido...

Selected response from:

LEXICON KK
Local time: 10:32

Grading comment

Thanks a lot, everyone. I hate to pick just one for grading, because your comments were all great.
I liked Nao's coming from various aspects. I never thought about his last scenario.
Mkj's educational one that it says this phrase just refers to woman was also very helpful, because I was about to misuse it.
Thanks again. Randy
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

raven-black hair

LEXICON KK

from nao, these are possible meanings,,,

napiko

4 +1

lustrous black hair (of young women)

mkj (X)

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

32 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

raven-black hair

LEXICON KK
Local time: 10:32
Native speaker of:

English,

Japanese
PRO pts in pair: 22

Grading comment

1 hr confidence:

from nao, these are possible meanings,,,

Explanation:
1)"midori" is green, but also means black which is very shiny and rich black, not dull. this usage of term is mostly to express the appearance of the hair, how shiny and rich the black hair is.

2)"midori" could simply means color green. it could be "dyed green black hair".

3)"midori" is a common girl's name in japan. so it could be "midori(name)'s black hair".

napiko
PRO pts in pair: 12

3 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

lustrous black hair (of young women)

Explanation:
This question was posted and answered fairly recently by the way.

Why green? Becauase the color signifies fresh or young things in the Japanese language. Ex. Midorigo means a new-born baby. The color of spring is green, and this is when new life starts for many people: new beginning

Yes, the hair color in question is raven-black. My color-analyst friend told me that the color black has a lot of blue in it. I can also see some green in it from a certain angle. The color green has a lot of blue in it.

In the Japanese language, sometimes blue means green, as seen in the traffic signals; the Japanese call the green lights "ao shingou". They also say, "Kusaki ga aoaoto shigeru." for green plants and leaves. Sometimes, midori is a literary way of saying blue, too.

Anyway, this expression, midori no kurokami, is used only for YOUNG women who have a lot of shiny black hair. It must refer to the young, healthy (thus very black and shiny) hair of young women. Not for the old. Not for guys, while the expression "midorino kami" is used also for young guys in the old Japanese literature.

ref: Japanese dictionary
Iro no Techou, Shogakkan

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Note added at 2002-04-06 03:15:12 (GMT)
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Young women used to dream of having midorino korokami. You wouldn\'t see this expression being used much nowadays except in poems or lyrics. Enka songs might use this expression. Some retro-type ads might try to. Of course, if you have a girlfriend who has lustrous black hair, you can use it.

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Note added at 2002-04-06 03:42:58 (GMT)
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The fourth meaning of midori is luster according to my dictionary.

mkj (X)
United States
Local time: 18:32
PRO pts in pair: 159

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English translation: raven-black hair

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