錦鯉(にしきごい)

にしきごい
noun
koi; ornamental carp
1. koi; ornamental carp; nishikigoi
Colorful varieties of carp bred for decorative purposes, kept in garden ponds and displayed in competitions. Originally developed in Niigata Prefecture, they are now admired worldwide.
池(いけ)に錦鯉(にしきごい)が泳(およ)いでいる。
Koi are swimming in the pond.
祖父(そふ)の趣味(しゅみ)は錦鯉(にしきごい)の飼育(しいく)だ。
My grandfather's hobby is raising koi.
品評会(ひんぴょうかい)で優勝(ゆうしょう)した錦鯉(にしきごい)は数千万円(すうせんまんえん)の値(ね)がつくこともある。
A koi that wins at a show can be worth tens of millions of yen.

Compound of 錦(にしき) (brocade, referring to the colorful patterns) + 鯉(こい) (carp). The voiced form ごい is due to rendaku.

Koi breeding originated in 新潟県(にいがたけん) during the Edo period. Major varieties include 紅白(こうはく) (red and white), 大正三色(たいしょうさんしょく) (red, white, and black), and 昭和三色(しょうわさんしょく).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 錦鯉(にしきごい)を飼(か)う (to keep koi)
  • 錦鯉(にしきごい)の品評会(ひんぴょうかい) (koi show/competition)
  • 錦鯉(にしきごい)の養殖(ようしょく) (koi farming)
general
Added 2026.3.2 14:57
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