Exploring the Fascinating World of Fish in the Japanese Language

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!

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Table of Content

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 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

海の幸 (うみのさち, Umi no sachi) - It literally means "blessings of the sea" and is used to refer to seafood, including fish, shellfish and other edible marine animals.

水生動物 (すいせいどうぶつ, 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.

魚介類 (ぎょかいるい, Gyokairui) - Refers to seafood in general, including fish, crustaceans, and molluscs.

海産物 (かいさんぶつ, Kaisanbutsu) - Refers to marine products, which may include fish and other seafood, as well as seaweed and other marine resources.

魚屋 (さかなや, Sakana-ya) - It means "fishmonger" or "fish salesman" 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:

魚の頭 (さかなのあたま, 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 or young fish
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
鰈 (かれい, Karei) - Sole
鰯 (いわし, Iwashi) - Sardine

Other words related to fish:

水族館 (すいぞくかん, Suizokukan) - Aquarium
漁業 (ぎょぎょう, Gyogyo) - fishing industry
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) - bony 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) - fresh water fish
海水魚 (かいすいぎょ, Kaisui-gyo) - marine 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
外来魚 (がいらいぎょ, Gairaigyo) - Exotic or invasive fish

Fish species:

鮭 (さけ, Sake) - Salmon
鯛 (たい, Tai) - red snapper
鰤 (ぶり, Buri) - Lookout
鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
鰹 (かつお, Katsuo) - Bonito
鯵 (あじ, Aji) - horse mackerel
鰈 (かれい, Karei) - Sole
鰯 (いわし, Iwashi) - Sardine
鰺 (あじ, Aji) - kingfish
鱸 (すずき, Suzuki) - sea bass
鮪 (まぐろ, Maguro) - Tuna
鮎 (あゆ, Ayu) - sweetfish
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
鮫 (さめ, Same) - Shark
鱶 (ふか, Fuka) - Greenland shark
鯱 (しゃち, Shachi) - Orca
鰐 (わに, Wani) - marine crocodile
鮟鱇 (あんこう, Ankou) - rape fish
魟 (ひらまさ, Hiramasa) - yellow kingfish
鯨 (くじら, Kujira) - Whale
鰆 (さわら, Sawara) - spanish fish
鯰 (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
真鯛 (まだい, Madai) - Japanese red snapper
鰤 (ぶり, Buri) - japanese eyelet
鮃 (ひらめ, Hirame) - Plaice
鱚 (きす, Kisu) - Hake fish
鯖 (さば, Saba) - Mackerel
鮟鱇 (あんこう, Ankou) - rape fish
鯰 (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
鰰 (はたはた, Hatahata) - japanese sandfish
鯰 (なまず, Namazu) - Catfish
鰡 (ぼら, Bora) - gray 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:

貝 (かい, Kai) - molluscs
海老 (えび, Ebi) - Shrimp
蟹 (かに, Kani) - Crab
イカ (いか, Ika) - Lula
タコ (たこ, Tako) - Octopus
クラゲ (くらげ, Kurage) - Jellyfish
マンボウ (まんぼう, Manbou) - sunfish
ネンブツダイ (ねんぶつだい, Nenbutsudai) - parrotfish
ダツ (だつ, Datsu) - Lion-fish
ナンヨウハギ (なんようはぎ, Nanyouhagi) - porcupine fish
クリオネ (くりおね, Kurione) - Clione, also known as the sea angel
アワビ (あわび, Awabi) - Abalone
サンゴ (さんご, Sango) - Coral
ウミウシ (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-serpent
イルカ (いるか, Iruka) - Dolphin
マナティ (まなてぃ, Manati) - manatee
ペンギン (ぺんぎん, Pengin) - Penguin
ウツボ (うつぼ, Utsubo) - moray eel
オットセイ (おっとせい, Ottosei) - Sealion
アザラシ (あざらし, Azarashi) - Seal
ミズクラゲ (みずくらげ, Mizukurage) - fresh water jellyfish
ウミユリ (うみゆり, Umiyuri) - sea lily
ウミタナゴ (うみたなご, Umitanago) - kitefish