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白黒をつける (しろくろをつける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
settle a matter ; determine right or wrong ; make clear
colloquial
Colloquial expression meaning to resolve a dispute or ambiguous situation by clearly deciding which side is correct or what the truth is. Often used when someone demands a clear yes/no or right/wrong judgment.
彼かれ は いつも 物もの 事ごと に 白しろ 黒くろ を つけ たがる 。
He always wants to determine whether things are right or wrong.
Similar words 決けっ 着ちゃく をつける More formal and often used for concluding disputes or competitions, while 白黒をつける is colloquial and emphasizes a clear judgment of right/wrong.
はっきりさせる General verb meaning 'to clarify' or 'to make clear', without the nuance of judging right or wrong.
Etymology From 白 (white) and 黒 (black), representing clear opposites, plus をつける (to attach/assign). The phrase literally means 'to assign white or black', i.e., to make a clear distinction between right and wrong.
