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     (Japanese Dictionary)

A dictionary of commonly used Japanese words and their English definitions Compiled and edited by Bernie Woolands from an original dictionary by Joop van Tol. Bernie Woolands is a BKKS and NVN judge and a member of the South East Section. Joop van Tol is Koi Pond Technical Advisor to the NVN (Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland). My appreciation to both of you.

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Variety   Ai Goromo White Koi with red scales robed in blue. Aka Bekko Red koi with black markings. Aka Hajiro Red koi with white tips to the  pectorial fins. Aka Matsuba Red koi with a black pinecone pattern to the scales Aka Muji A light red koi. Aka Sanke A Sanke with a predominantly red pattern on the back. Asagi Blue & orange koi with a pale vignette pattern to the scales. Asagi Magoi One of the three ancestors of Nishikigoi. (Blue carp) Asagi Sanke An Asagi x Sanke hybrid Beni Goi Aka Muji - with a deeper red colour Beni Kikuryu Metallic version of Beni Kumonryu Beni Kumonryu A Kumonryu with the addition of red. Boke Showa A Showa with undeveloped sumi Budo Goromo A Koromo with purplish/brown robes to thered scales Cha Utsuri A brown koi with a black utsuri pattern. Chagoi A brown "tea" coloured koi. Doro Magoi One of the three ancestors of Nishikigoi. (Muddy carp) Gin Kabuto A black koi with silver head and scale edges. Gin Matsuba A metallic silver koi with a black pinecone pattern to the scales. Gin Shiro Bekko A metallic Shiro Bekko Gin Shiro A metallic Shiro Utsuri aka Gin Shiro Utsuri Ginbo A black koi with a silver sheen Ginsui A metallic Shusui with small or no orange colour Goshiki A Koromo with robing on the base colour, colloquially a five colour koi Gotenzakura A Kohaku with a flowery cherry blossom pattern. Hageshiro A black koi with white fin tips and head. Hajiro A black koi with white fin tips. Hana Shusui Shusui where the beni pattern appears in the flanks above the lateral line. Hariwake A silver & gold metallic Koi Hariwake Matsuba A hariwake with pinecone pattern. Hi Asagi Asagi where the red pattern reaches the dorsal ridge. Hi Showa Showa where red is the predominant colour Hi Shusui Shusui where the beni pattern reaches the dorsal ridge Hi Utsuri A black koi with a red pattern. Higoi A red koi. Early ancestor of the present Utsuri & Showa Karasugoi A family of black & white koi often with orange bellies. Kasane sumi Sanke sumi that is present on the Hi pattern. Ki Bekko A Yellow koi with black markings. Kigoi Yellow Koi Ki Matsuba Yellow koi with a pinecone pattern to the scales. Ki Shusui A  Shusui with yellow instead of an orange pattern. Ki Utsuri A black koi with a yellow pattern. Kikokuryu Metallic Kumonryu. Kikusui Silver doitsugoi with yellow in the flanks. Kin Fuji Metallic Kohaku. Kin Hi Utsuri Metallic Hi-Utsuri Kin Kabuto Black koi with gold head and scale edges. Literally "Golden Helmet" Kin Ki Utsuri Metallic Ki-Utsuri Kin Showa Metallic Showa Kin Zakura Kohaku where Hi scales are bordered with gold Kinbo A black koi with a golden sheen. Kinsui A metallic Shusui with a gold pattern. Kohaku White koi with a red pattern. Konjo Asagi A very dark blue Asagi. Kujaku Metallic two coloured Koi with a Matsuba pattern. Literally "Peacock". Kumonryu A black doitsu Koi of the karasu family with a volatile (changing) white pattern  Magoi The indigenous food carp of Japan Matsuba A koi with a brown/black centre to each scale giving a pinecone impression. Matsukawabake A fully scaled kumonryu Midori-goi A green doitsu Koi Narumi Asagi A light blue Asagi. Nezu Ogon Silvery grey metalli Koi. Nishikigoi Brocaded Carp Ochiba Shigure A blue-grey koi with a brown pattern. Ogon Gold Koi Platinum Ogon A metallic white koi. Pronounced  Pur-a-chin-a. Purachina The Japanese pronounciation of Platinum. Sakura Ogon A metallic Konoko Kohaku. Sanke White koi with a red and black pattern. Literally "Three coloured". Sanke Shusui Sanke x Shusui hybrid benched as Kawarimono Shiro Bekko White Koi with black pattern Shiro Matsuba White Koi with pinecone pattern Shiro Utsuri Black Koi with white pattern Shiromuji White Koi Shochikubai A metallic Ai-goromo. Showa Black Koi with red and White pattern Showa Shusui Showa x Shusui hybrid Shusui Doitsu version of Asagi. Soragoi A Grey-blue Koi Sumi Goromo Koromo with black robes to the scales of the red pattern Sumi-nagashi A black Koi of the Karasu group with white reticulation to the scales. Taki Asagi An Asagi with white line dividing the orange and blue colours. Tancho An isolated red pattern on the head: A Show Class for Koi with this pattern Tetsu Magoi One of the three ancestors of Nishikigoi. (Iron carp) Tora Ogon "Tiger Ogon". A metallic Ki-Bekko Yamabuki Yellow-gold Ogon. Yamato Nishiki Metallic Sanke Yotsushiro   Black Koi of the Karasu family  with a white head, white pectorial fins, white dorsal fin and tail. Literally "four whites" Zubanhaki Pattern confined to the rear half of a Koi. Literally "trousers"

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Colour   Ai Blue Aka Red Beni Red/Orange Cha Brown literally "Tea" Gin Silver metallic. Hi Red Karasu Black - literaly crow. Ki Yellow Kin Gold Midori Green Murusaki Purple Nezu Light Grey Orenji Orange Shiro White Sora Grey Sumi Black

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Numbers   Rei Zero Ichi One Ni Two San Three Yon Four Go Five Loku (Roku) Six Nana Seven Hachi Eight Ku Nine Ju Ten Ju-ichi Eleven (ten plus one) Ju-ni Twelve (ten plus two) Ju-san Thrirteen (ten plus three) And so on............ ......................then   Niju Twenty Sanju Thirty Yonju Forty Goju Fifty Rokuju Sixty Nanaju Seventy Hachiju Eighty Kyuuju Ninety Hyaku Hundred Hyakuju Hundred and ten Hyakuniju Hundred and twenty Hyakusanju Hundred and thirty Hyakuyonju Hundred and forty Hyakugoju Hundred and fifty Hyakurokuju Hundred and sixty Hyakushichiju Hundred and seventy Hyakuhachiju Hundred and eighty Hyakukyuju Hundred and ninety Nihyaku Two hundred Sanhyaku Three hundred Yonhyaku Four hundred Gohyaku Five hundred Rokuhyaku Six hundred Shichihyaku Seven hundred Hachihyaku Eight hundred Kyuuhyaku Nine hundred Sen Thousand Ni-sen Two thousand San-zen Three thousand Yon-san Four thousand And so on................

Example
The number of Koi in the South East Show 2007 was san-hyaku-ju-san
Sanhyaku = 300.  Jusan = 13. Total 313.

The Japanese words Sai (Year), Dan (Step), Bu (Size) often accompany a number.
E.g. Nidan (Two Step), Sansai (Three year), Yonbu (Size Four)

Hitots One Futatsu Two Mits Three Yots Four Itutsu Five Muts Six Nanats Seven Yats Eight Kokonots Nine To Ten

When using these numbers the item comes first. E.g. Biru Futatsu  (Two Beers).

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Terminology   Ago hi Hi markings on the gills Ago Sumi Sumi markings on gills Aka Hana A red nose. Akame An eye with a red iris, mostly seen on Kigoi. Atarashi Sumi High gloss stable Sumi Maruzome Kiwa. Literally "New Sumi". Ato Sumi A late development of Sumi. Bekko A Show Class for white, yellow or red koi with black markings; Literally "Tortoiseshell" Beta-gin Type of Ginrin where the whole scale shines. Boke sumi Undeveloped Showa/Utsuri sumi Bongiri Head pattern that does not go far enough forward. Bozu A Kohaku with no red on the head. Literally "Priest". Budo Pattern of Koromo resembling grapes. Literally "Grape". Danmoyo Stepped pattern Doitsu Koi with no scales or  one or a few lines of scales. Literally "German" Fukarin Visible skin between the scales giving a vignette 'golf ball' like appearance. Fuji A metallic sheen or pinpoint silver spots on the head of young non-metallic koi Ginrin An abbreviated term for the show class Kinginrin: Literally "Silver Scale". Go Sanke A term for Kohaku, Sanke and Showa. Rough translation "The Important Three" Hachi sumi Lignting shaped sumi head pattern (Utsuri & Showa) Hana sumi A Sumi mark on or around the nose. Hanatsuki A red head pattern that stretches down to the mouth. Hikari Metallic. Hikari Moyomono A Show Class for patterned metallic Koi. Hikari Mujimono A Show Class for single coloured metallic koi incl Matsuba. Hikari Utsurimono A Show Class for all metallic Utsuri and Showa. Hiroshima Gin Aka Diamond Gin, a Ginrin scale pattern resembling cracked glass Inazuma A lightning shaped Hi pattern. Ippon hi A continuous red pattern from head to tail Jari sumi Small unwanted sumi markings. Literally "Gravel" Kado Edge. Kado Gin Ginrin found on the edge of the scales. Kagami Doitsugoi (Mirror Carp type). Kage Sumi with a faded appearance. Literally "shadow" Kamisori Kiwa that cuts across the scale. Kanoko Dappled hi, isolated to single scales. Literally 'fawn - young deer'. Kata moyo A pattern that is only present on one side of the body. Kawagoi Doitsugoi (Leather Carp type). Kawarimono The catch-all Show classification of al non metallic koi. Kindai Literally "modern" Kinginrin Show class for Koi with metalic flecks in thescales. Literally "Gold & Silver Scales". Kiwa The trailing edge of a pattern element. Kokesuki Uneven colour within patterns Koromo Show Class for "robed" Koi. Kuchibeni Red lipped. Kutsubera Classic shoehorn head pattern of Sanke and Kohaku, Rounded & between the eyes. Maruzome Kiwa that follows the edges of the scales. Menkaburi Hi pattern that covers the whole head. Menware Traditional black head patterns of Showa and Utsuri (Y shaped) Moto Aka Red markings in the base of the pectorial fins. Red version of Moto-guru Motoguro Black markings in the base of the pectorial fins. Niban Hi Secondary hi Nidan Two step pattern (see Numbers) Nissai Two year old koi. (see Numbers) Odome Last pattern mark before the tail. Ojima Black stripes in the tail. Ojime The gap between the last Hi pattern before the tail. Omoyo Large Hi markings. Ozutsu The caudal peduncle Sandan Three step pattern Sansai Three year old Koi Sashi The leading edge of a pattern element. Shimi Small unwanted black spots. Shiroji The white base colour of white skinned Koi Sudare Gin Type of Ginrin where the shine radiates from edge to centre - invasive Kado Gin Tama-gin Type of Ginrin where the centre of the scale shines Tategoi Koi with potential for improving. Tateshita Young finished Koi with no potential for improvement. Opposite of Tategoi Tejima Black stripes in the pectorial fins Teri Shine Tobi-hi Rogue hi.  Small beni spots isolated from the main pattern Tsubo Sumi "Best placed". Sumi on white skin. Tsuya Lustre Utsuri Literally "Reflection" refering to the pattern Utsurimono Show class for Hi,Ki & Shiro Utsuri Wagoi Fully scaled Koi. Yoroi Doitsugoi (Armoured Carp type).

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