金魚(きんぎょ)

きんぎょ
noun
goldfish
1. goldfish
A small ornamental fish, typically orange or red, often kept as pets.
夏祭(なつまつ)りで金魚(きんぎょ)すくいをした。
I scooped goldfish at the summer festival.
金魚(きんぎょ)すくい = goldfish scooping (festival game)
金魚(きんぎょ)を水槽(すいそう)で飼(か)っている。
I keep goldfish in a tank.
金魚(きんぎょ)に餌(えさ)をやるのは子供(こども)の仕事(しごと)だ。
Feeding the goldfish is the children's job.
赤(あか)い金魚(きんぎょ)と白(しろ)い金魚(きんぎょ)がいる。うちの金魚(きんぎょ)は赤(あか)い方(ほう)が元気(げんき)だ。
There are red goldfish and white goldfish. Our red one is more lively.
子供(こども)の頃(ころ)、毎年(まいとし)夏祭(なつまつ)りで金魚(きんぎょ)をすくったが、すぐに死(し)んでしまって悲(かな)しかった。
When I was a child, I scooped goldfish at the summer festival every year, but they always died quickly and I was sad.

金魚(きんぎょ) (literally 'gold fish') are popular pets in Japan.

Cultural associations:

  • 金魚(きんぎょ)すくい (goldfish scooping) - popular summer festival game
  • Symbol of summer in Japan
  • Often depicted in art and 浮世絵(うきよえ) (woodblock prints)

Common expressions:

  • 金魚(きんぎょ)を飼(か)う (to keep goldfish)
  • 金魚(きんぎょ)鉢(ばち) (goldfish bowl)
  • 金魚(きんぎょ)のフン (literally 'goldfish droppings' - slang for someone who always follows another person around)

Counter: 匹(ひき) (for small animals)

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Added 2026.1.13 21:17 · Revised 2026.2.4 19:52
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