真っ暗
Meanings
1
pitch-dark; completely dark
Describes a place or situation with no light at all; often used literally for darkness, but can also describe a very dark color or a lack of visibility.
The room went pitch-dark because of the power outage.
It's already completely dark outside.
2
very bleak; utterly hopeless
Figurative use for a future, prospect, or situation that seems completely without hope or light.
At this rate, the future looks utterly hopeless.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉が真っ暗になるfor a place to become pitch-dark
The room went pitch-dark because of a power outage.
- 〈事〉が真っ暗だfor a situation or prospect to look utterly bleak
With this recession, the company's future looks utterly bleak.
- 真っ暗な〈場所〉a pitch-dark place
I walked alone down the pitch-dark night road.
Expressions
- 目の前が真っ暗になるlose hope; feel despair; see no future · be plunged into darkness; go pitch black