Koi Terminology for the Water Pond Enthusiast
Every time you learn a language that is not your own, it can become quite difficult to remember. This article will help you break down the Japanese language to make it easier to retain. A large part of the Koi names are colors. I have divided the terminology into categories. They are colors, Koi age, body parts, sizes, and other Japanese words. I did not include the terminology used when judging, as it is quite extensive. I want you to learn something from this without feeling overwhelmed. We will start the list of categories with the colors ordered by word in English.
COLORS
English = Japanese
Orange = Orenji
Red = Hello (marks) or Aka (body)
Dark red = Beni
Blue = Ai
Light blue = Akebi or Mizu
Medium blue = Narumi
Dark blue = Konjo
White = Shiro
Yellow = Ki
Yellow / Green = Hisoku
Green = Midori or Koshi
Gold (metallic) = Kin
Silver (metallic) = Geneva
Platinum = Purachina
Gray = Sora
Brown = Cha
Black = Karasu (body), Sumi or Kuro (marks)
Barely visible black = Sokozumi
KOI’S AGE
Japanese = English
Tosai = Koi up to 1 year
Nesai = Koi from 1 to 2 years
Sansai = Koi 2-3 years
Yonsai = Four-year-old Koi
Gosai = Five-year-old Koi
Yogyo = Young fish
KOI BODY PARTS
Doh = Body
Hachi = Head
Kao = Area between the cheeks on the face
Hara = abdominal area
Koke = Scale
Kuchi = Lips
Men = Face
Tebire = Pectoral thin
Namitate = Dorsal end
Ozuke = Base of the tail
Ozutsu = area of the body behind the dorsal fin
Penducle = Area just before the tail
SIZES
Bu = Size division
Ichi bu = Size one
Ni Bu = Size two
San bu = Size three
Yon bu = Size four
Go bu = Size five
Roku bu = size six
Shiki bu = Size seven
OTHER JAPANESE WORDS
Aka Hana = Red Nose
Friend = Net
Arashi Kumo = Storm Clouds
Ato = late onset
Beer = Fire
Dagoi = Poor quality fish
Yotsa = Oven
Goi = Carp or fish
Goke = Fish scale
Hiagari = Intensity of the color red
Hinomaru = Rising Sun
Iromono = Name used for all metallic koi
Jari = Gravel
Jihada = Koi skin texture
Kana = Male Koi
Kindai = Modern
Koi-dangi = The word means we Koi enthusiasts!
Kokenami = Line of scales
Koromo = Tunic
Kujaku = peacock
Leather Koi = Koi with no visible scales
Momo = One
Moyo = More than one color
Muji = Single solid color
Ochibashigure = Autumn leaves in the water
Oiya = Father
Oiyagoi = Koi father
Oyugu Hoseki = Living Jewels
Pongoi = good quality fish
Sanshoku = Three colors
Sarasa = bright feelings
Taki = waterfall
Teri = Brightness
Tetsu = Iron
Tsuya = Shine
Utsuri = Reflections
