Do you know the name of fish in Japanese? Looking to increase your vocabulary with language? I propose we explore the fascinating world of fish in Japanese?
Japan is a country surrounded by water with a rich history and culture tied to the ocean. With a seafood-based diet, the Japanese have developed a wide and diverse vocabulary related to fish.
In this article, we'll explore different ways of referring to fish in Japanese, discuss some of the most common types of fish, and finally provide a comprehensive list of words related to fish, organized by category. Dive with us into this fascinating aquatic world!
We also recommend reading:
- Japanese Animal Name – Doubutsu
- Names and types of meats and fishes in Japanese
- The 10 most consumed types of fish in Japan
Table of Contents
How to say Fish in Japanese
The Japanese often have different ways of referring to a single thing, see below some words that can be used to refer to fish in Japanese:
魚 (さかな, Sakana) - Fish
The most common word for "fish" in Japanese is 魚 (さかな, Sakana). This word is used both to refer to fish in general and to a specific fish, depending on the context.
The word 魚 is composed of the water radical (氵) on the left side and the right part (与) which represents a fish with its tail down. This combination suggests the meaning of "fish" as an aquatic being.
魚類 (ぎょるい, Gyorui) - Pisces (plural)
When referring to fish as a group, we can use the word 魚類 (ぎょるい, Gyorui), which means “fish” in the plural sense. This word is useful when talking about a variety of fish species or about fish in general.
Other ways to say fish
seafood - It literally means "blessings of the sea" and is used to refer to seafood, including fish, shellfish, and other edible marine animals.
Aquatic animals (水生動物, Suisei dōbutsu) - It refers to aquatic animals in general, including fish, but also includes other living beings that inhabit the water, such as amphibians, crustaceans and molluscs.
Seafood - Refers to seafood in general, including fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Seafood Refers to marine products, which may include fish and other seafood, as well as seaweed and other marine resources.
Fish shop (さかなや, Sakana-ya) - It means "fish market" or "fishmonger," where fish and other seafood are sold.
Pisces Vocabulary in Japanese
Now let's look at some Japanese words related to fish:
Parts of a fish:
- Fish head (Sakana no atama) - Fish head
- 鱗 (うろこ, Uroko) - Scales
- 背鰭 (せびれ, Sebire) - Dorsal fin
- 腹鰭 (ふくびれ, Fukubire) - Pectoral fin
- 尾鰭 (おびれ, Obire) - Caudal fin
Fish at different stages of growth:
- 幼魚 (ようぎょ, Yōgyo) - Young fish or fry
- 稚魚 (ちぎょ, Chigyo) - Immature or juvenile fish
- 成魚 (せいぎょ, Seigyo) - Adult fish
Specific species of fish:
- 鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
- 鰹 (かつお, Katsuo) - Bonito
- 鯵 (あじ, Aji) - Horse Mackerel
- Flounder (かれい, Karei) - Flounder
- 鰯 (いわし, Iwashi) - Sardine
Other words related to fish:
- 水族館 (すいぞくかん, Suizokukan) - Aquarium
- Fishing Industry - Indústria pesqueira
- 漁師 (りょうし, Ryōshi) - Fisherman
- 魚市場 (うおいちば, Uoichiba) - Fish market
Types and Species of Fish in Japanese
Types of fish:
- 骨魚類 (こつぎょるい, Kotsugyorui) - Bone fish
- 軟骨魚類 (なんこつぎょるい, Nankotsugyorui) - Cartilaginous fish
- 熱帯魚 (ねったいぎょ, Nettai-gyo) - Tropical fish
- 淡水魚 (たんすいぎょ, Tansui-gyo) - Freshwater fish
- Marine Fish (Kaisui-gyo) - Sea fish
- 飛び魚類 (とびぎょるい, Tobigyorui) - Flying fish
- 深海魚 (しんかいぎょ, Shinkaigyo) - Deep-sea fish
- Gairaigyo (外来魚, がいらいぎょ) - Exotic or invasive fish
Fish species:
- 鮭 (さけ, Sake) - Salmon
- 鯛 (たい, Tai) - Red snapper
- 鰤 (ぶり, Buri) - Look
- 鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
- 鰹 (かつお, Katsuo) - Bonito
- 鯵 (あじ, Aji) - Horse Mackerel
- Flounder (かれい, Karei) - Flounder
- 鰯 (いわし, Iwashi) - Sardine
- 鰺 (あじ, Aji) - King fish
- 鱸 (すずき, Suzuki) - Sea Bass
- 鮪 (まぐろ, Maguro) - Tuna
- 鮎 (あゆ, Ayu) - Freshwater fish
- 鰻 (うなぎ, Unagi) - Eel
- 鱚 (きす, Kisu) - Whiting
- 鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
- 鰊 (にしん, Nishin) - Herring
- 鯔 (ぼら, Bora) - Mullet
- Shark (Same) - Shark
- 鱶 (ふか, Fuka) - Greenland shark
- 鯱 (しゃち, Shachi) - Orca
- 鰐 (わに, Wani) - Marine crocodile
- Anglerfish (Ankou) - Rapefish
- 魟 (ひらまさ, Hiramasa) - Yellow kingfish
- Whale (Kujira) - Whale
- 鰆 (さわら, Sawara) - Spanish mackerel
- Namazu (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
- 真鯛 (まだい, Madai) - Japanese red sea bream
- 鰤 (ぶり, Buri) - Japanese mackerel
- Hirame (ひらめ, Hirame) - Flatfish
- 鱚 (きす, Kisu) - Whiting
- 鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
- Anglerfish (Ankou) - Rapefish
- Namazu (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
- 鰰 (はたはた, Hatahata) - Japanese sandfish
- Namazu (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
- 鰡 (ぼら, Bora) - Grey mullet
- 鰍 (どじょう, Dojou) - Loach
- 鱒 (ます, Masu) - Trout
- 鯉 (こい, Koi) - Carp
- 鰌 (どじょう, Dojou) - Loach
Other aquatic beings:
- Shellfish (Kai) - Mollusks
- 海老 (えび, Ebi) - Shrimp
- 蟹 (かに, Kani) - Crab
- Squid - Lula
- Octopus (Tako) - Octopus
- Jellyfish (Kurage) - Jellyfish
- Manbou (まんぼう, Manbou) - Moonfish
- ネンブツダイ (ねんぶつだい, Nenbutsudai) - Parrotfish
- ダツ (だつ, Datsu) - Lionfish
- ナンヨウハギ (なんようはぎ, Nanyouhagi) - Porcupinefish
- クリオネ (くりおね, Kurione) - Clione, also known as sea angel
- アワビ (あわび, Awabi) - Abalone
- サンゴ (さんご, Sango) - Coral
- Umiushi (うみうし, Umiushi) - Nudibranch
- ウミガメ (うみがめ, Umigame) - Sea turtle
- ウミヘビ (うみへび, Umihebi) - Sea snake
- イルカ (いるか, Iruka) - Dolphin
- Manatee (まなてぃ, Manati) - Seacow
- Penguin - Pinguim
- Moray eel (うつぼ, Utsubo) - Moreia
- Seal - Sea lion
- アザラシ (あざらし, Azarashi) - Seal
- ミズクラゲ (みずくらげ, Mizukurage) - Freshwater jellyfish
- ウミユリ (うみゆり, Umiyuri) - Sea lily
- Umitanago (うみたなご, Umitanago) - Pipefish
