尾(び)

び
counter
counter for fish and shrimp
1. counter for fish and shrimp
A formal counter used to count fish, shrimp, and similar aquatic creatures. More formal and technical than 匹(ひき), commonly used in fisheries, markets, and news reporting.
鯛(たい)を3尾(び)釣(つ)った。
I caught three sea bream.
今日(きょう)の水揚(みずあ)げは鮭(さけ)100尾(び)だった。
Today's catch was 100 salmon.
この水族館(すいぞくかん)では約(やく)500尾(び)の魚(さかな)が展示(てんじ)されている。
About 500 fish are on display at this aquarium.

COUNTING:
1尾(び) (いちび), 2尾(び) (にび), 3尾(び) (さんび), 4尾(び) (よんび), 5尾(び) (ごび), 6尾(び) (ろくび), 7尾(び) (ななび), 8尾(び) (はちび), 9尾(び) (きゅうび), 10尾(び) (じゅうび)

USAGE:
A formal, somewhat technical counter. In everyday conversation, 匹(ひき) is more natural for counting fish. 尾(び) is preferred in fisheries (漁業(ぎょぎょう)), news reports, markets, and scientific contexts.

SIMILAR COUNTERS:

  • 匹(ひき): general counter for animals including fish (everyday)
  • 本(ほん): sometimes used for long fish like eels

Related Words

Related: 尾(お) (different reading)
general
Added 2026.3.20 10:08
18000/18068_bi