豊漁(ほうりょう)

A compound of 豊(ほう) (abundant, rich) and 漁(りょう) (fishing, catch). The antonym is 不漁(ふりょう) (poor catch). Commonly seen in seasonal news reports about fish catches.

Common collocations

• 豊漁(ほうりょう)に恵(めぐ)まれる: to be blessed with a good catch
• 豊漁(ほうりょう)を祈(いの)る: to pray for an abundant catch
• 記録的(きろくてき)な豊漁(ほうりょう): a record-breaking catch
• 豊漁(ほうりょう)貧乏(びんぼう): poverty due to an oversupply of fish (prices crash so fishermen lose money despite catching more)

Similar words

• 大漁(たいりょう): big catch — more casual and celebratory; often seen on fishing flags (大漁旗(たいりょうばた))
• 不漁(ふりょう): poor catch — the antonym
• 豊作(ほうさく): bumper crop — the agricultural equivalent (for farming, not fishing)

Cultural note

豊漁(ほうりょう)貧乏(びんぼう) is a well-known economic paradox in Japan: when the catch is too good, fish prices plummet and fishermen's income actually decreases despite the abundance.