1.
crucian carp
A freshwater fish of the carp family, native to Japan and widely found in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Culturally significant in Japanese cuisine, literature, and proverbs.
池で鮒を釣った。
I caught a crucian carp in the pond.
琵琶湖の鮒寿司は有名な郷土料理だ。
Funazushi from Lake Biwa is a famous local dish.
子どものころ、近所の川でよく鮒を捕まえて遊んだものだ。
When I was a child, I used to catch crucian carp in the nearby river and play with them.
A common freshwater fish in Japan, smaller and rounder than koi. It has been part of Japanese food culture for centuries, particularly in the form of 鮒寿司, a fermented sushi from Shiga Prefecture considered a precursor to modern sushi.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 鮒寿司: fermented crucian carp sushi (Shiga specialty)
- 鮒釣り: crucian carp fishing
- 金魚の祖先は鮒: goldfish descend from crucian carp
PROVERBS:
- 鮒の仲間には鮒: like attracts like (lit. among crucian carp, only crucian carp)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 鯉: koi, common carp — larger and more elongated
- 金魚: goldfish — domesticated variety originally bred from crucian carp