Basic Koi Terminology

To the novice or first time Koi keeper, the everyday phrases and/or names used by other Koi enthusiasts can be quite daunting and take some getting used to. Below is a short list of some of these terms along with their translations which you may come across, particularly when discussing the fish themselves :-

• Ai - Blue.
• Aka - Red.
• Akame - Eye with red iris.

• Bekko - Black markings on a koi with white, red or yellow base.
• Beni - Orange-red.
• Budo - Grapes.

• Cha - Brown.

• Doitsu - A Koi with scales along the dorsal and lateral lines only.

• Fukurin - A highly lustrous, non-metallic skin.

• Gin - Silver metallic.
• Go Sanke - The term used to describe fish from the Kohaku, Sanke and Showa classes.
• Goi - Koi (short form of Goior Koi).

• Hi - Red.
• Hikari - Metallic.

• Inazuma - Lightning pattern.
• Ippon Hi - A "one step" red pattern found on a Kohaku.

• Kabuto - Cap or helmet, referring to fish with a head colour different from the body.
• Kage - A black "fish net" pattern over white or red colouration.
• Kanoko - A dappled pattern.
• Karasu - Black (overall).
• Karasugoi - An intense black Koi.
• Kasane Sumi - Black pattern on red skin as found on the Go Sanke varieties of Nishikigoi.
• Ki - Yellow.
• Kin - Gold.
• Kindai Showa - A Showa within a larger than normal proportion of white pattern.
• Kiwa - The clarity or sharpness of the rear edges of a pattern. Observed when an underlying colour is seen through the overlapping scales.
• Kuchi - Mouth.
• Kuchibeni - Red-lipped.

• Maru - Circle.
• Matsuba - Pine cone pattern.
• Menkaburi - A Kohaku with almost a completely red head.
• Midori - Green.
• Motoguro - Solid black colouration in the base of pectoral fins on a Showa.

• Nezu - Grey.
• Niigata - The region, north west of Tokyo, known as the "home" of Koi.
• Nishikigoi - Coloured carp.

• Ogon - One colour metallic.
• Omoyo - Large red markings.
• Orenji - Orange.

• Rin - Scale.

• Sashi - The leading edge of a pattern. Observed when an underlying colour is seen through the overlapping scales.
• Shimi - A small unwanted black or red pigmentation mark.
• Shiro - White.
• Sui - Water.
• Sumi - Black (in the form of a patch).

• Tancho - A circular red spot on the head. No other red on the body.
• Tejima - Three or four "stripes" of Sumi in the pectoral fins of a Sanke.
• Tsubo Sumi - Black pattern on white skin.

 

 

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