Japanese to English Koi Glossary
When learning about a new hobby or topic, it is beneficial to fully understand the vernacular. Vernacular is a fancy word for language, or the terminology surrounding a specific topic.
In the case of Koi, many of the phrases and terminology have roots in Japan. This makes it both interesting to learn, and also for a non Japanese speaking person, often difficult.
To make this hobby more enjoyable, here is a glossary with quite a few of the major terms used in the Koi hobby. Please bookmark this page as a reference.
— A —
Ago Sumi (ah-go sue-me) = Sumi (black) on gills
Ai (eye) = Blue or Indigo color
Aigoromo (eye-go-ROW-mow) = A Goromo Koi with blue or indigo reticulation
Ai Showa (eye show-wah) = A Showa Koi with blue or indigo speckles
Aizumi (eye-Zoo-me) = Blue sumi tinged with indigo
Aka (Ah-Kah) = Red body
Aka Bekko (AH-kah BECK-koh) = Red Koi with black markings
Aka hana (AH-kah HAH-nah) = Red nose
Aka Hajiro (AH-ka ha-JEE-row) Red Koi with white tips to the pectoral and caudal fins
Akamuji or Aka Muji (AH-kah-MOO-jee) = Light red Koi
Akame (a-kah-may) = Red Eye with a red iris
Aka Matsuba (AH-kah maht-SOO-bah) = Red Koi with a black ‘pine-cone’ pattern in the scales along the back
Aka Sanke (AH-kah SAHN-keh) = Hi (red) covers almost entire head and body
Akebi (ah-KEH-bee) = light blue
Albino (Al-BY-no) = A genetic anomaly (lack of pigment) usually demonstrated by red eyes
Ami (ah-ME) = Net
Amime (ah-ME-meh) = Mesh or ‘eyes’ of scales in a net pattern
Aragoke (ah-rah-GO-keh) = Large armor scales
Arashi Kumo(ah-RAH-shee KOO-moh) = “Storm Clouds”. This term describes a “storm cloud” like black pattern. It is a mix of sumi, kage sumi (shadow) and white that all work together to create the “storm cloud” effect.
Asagi (ah-SAH-gee) = A gray-blue reticulated scaled Koi with hi (red) along the lateral lines, cheeks and in the fins
Asagi Hi (ah-SAH-gee HEE) = Secondary, undesirable hi (red) appearing as freckles below the lateral line
Asagi Magoi (ah-SAH-gee MAH-goy) = Early ancestor of the modern Asagi
Atama ga hageru (ah-TAH-mah gah HAH-geh-roo) Clearness of head, clean, clear head
Atama (ah-TAH-mah) = Head crown
Ato (AH-toh) = Late-appearing (i.e. referring to sumi; ato sumi)
— B —
Bekko(BEH-koh) = Single solid color of white, red or yellow Koi with black markings
Beni (ben-ee) = Deep solid red
Beni Kujaku (BEN-ee koo-JAH-koo) = Orange-red Kujaku with red markings all over the body
Benigoi (ben-ee-goy) = non metallic red Koi, resembling Akamuji but with a deeper red coloration
Beni Kumonryu (BEN-ee koo-mahn-droo) = Kumonryu with red markings
Beret Hi (BEH-reh HEE) = symmetrical head hi (red) on one side only
Beta-gin (BEH-tah deen) = finest type of Kin-gin-rin (gin rin), where the whole surface of each scale sparkles
Bire (BEE-reh) = ‘Fire’, a name used for the specific red patterning on Asagi and Shusui
Boke (BOH-kee) = Undeveloped Showa sumi
Boke Showa (BOH-kee SHOW-wah) = popular form of Showa, with blurred, grayish sumi – netting sumi
Bongiri(Bohn-GEE-ree) = Head hi does not come far enough towards the nose
Bozu (boh-ZOO) = No hi on the head, bald head
Bu (boo) = Size division
Budo (BOO-doh) = Arrangement of colored scales resembling a bunch of grapes
Budo Goromo (BOO-doh go-ROW-mow) = Koi with a purplish, grape like pattern or patterns on its white body
Budo Sanke (BOO-doh-SAHN-keh) = Koi with a pattern resembling that of Budo Goromo combined with solid black markings
Bunka Sanke (BOON-ka SAHN-keh) = blue Sanke with shiny pectoral fins, Seen only as a baby Koi
— C —
Cha (chah) = Brown
Chagoi (CHAH-goy) = Non metallic light brown Koi, the “friendly” “calm” Koi
Chigyo (CHEEG-yoh) = Un-culled Unsorted fry
Chupa (CHOO-pah) = Medium quality fish.
Caudal fin (KAH-dal) = Tail fin
— D —
Dagoi (DAH-goy) = Poor quality fish
Dainichi (dye-NEE-chee) = Famous Go-Sanke lineage of Koi
Dangara (dahn-GAH-rah) = stepped pattern on the body of a Koi, also known as Danmoyo
Danmoyo (dahn-MOW-yow) = Step pattern
Doh (doh) = Trunk, or body
Doh Hi (doh-hee) = Hi on the body
Doh Zumi (doh zoo-mee) = Sumi on the body.
Doitsu(DOYT-zoo) = German Koi that are not fully scaled, usually with a row of scales along each lateral line and a row on either side of the dorsal fin
Doitsu Kujaku(DOYT-zoo koo-JAH-koo) = platinum Koi with red markings over its body and black markings in the scales along the dorsal and lateral lines only
Doitsu Yamato Nishiki (DOYT-zoo YAH-mah-toh nee-SHEE-kee) A scaleless metallic Taisho Sanshoku (Sanke). Also known as Heisie Nishiki (Hay say nee SHEE kee)
Doitsu Yotsushiro (DOYT-zoo YOT-soo-SHEE-roh) = Origin of Kumonryu; Yotsa means 4, Shiro means white. Doitsu Yotsushiro is a Doitsu Koi with 4 patches of white: nose, tail, and both pectoral fins
Do Zumi (doh ZOO-mee) = Sumi on the body
Doware (dohn-WAH-reh) = Large white area of a pattern.
— E —
Enyu (EHN-yoo) = doitsu Koi with a white body and red markings whose mirror scales are platinum; pale blue speckles may be interspersed within the red and white color of the dorsal surface.
Etsu No Hisoku (EHT-zoo noh hee-ZOH-koo) = doitsu yellow-green Koi.
— F —
Fucarin (FOO-kah-reen) = The area of skin around the smaller scales of good metallic Koi. The smaller the scales, the greater the luster.
Fuji (FOO-jee) = The almost metallic finish on the head of some young non metallic Koi
Fukurin (FOO-koo-reen) = Mesh pattern or reticulated effect (vignette) involving scales and skin
— G —
Gaku Hi (GAH-koo hee) = Red on upper part of face (forehead).
Giku(GEE-koo) = Relates to the swimming mode of a Koi with a deformed body
Gin (geen) = Shiny, reflective, silver metallic.
Gin Bekko (GEEN BEH-koo) = Basically a metallic Shiro Bekko.
Gin Kabuto (GEEN kah-BOO-tow) = Black Koi whose scales have silver edges.
Gin Matsuba (GEEN maht-ZOO-bah) = Metallic silver Koi with a black ‘pine cone’ (matsuba) pattern in the scales.
Gin Shiro (GEEN SHEE-row) = Metallic Shiro Utsuri
Gin Showa (GEEN SHOW-wah) = Metallic Showa with a silver luster
Ginbo (GEEN-bow) = black Koi with a silver metallic sheen.
Ginga (GEEN-gah) = Metallic Koi with black and white markings. A cross breed of a Hajiro Kawarimono with a Platinum Ogon
Ginrin or Gin Rin – (geen-deen) = The more commonly used term for Kinginrin, referring to sparkling scale types
Ginsui (GEEN-swee) = Metallic Shusui with a silver luster
Go bu (goh boo) = Size five
Godan Kohaku(GOH-dahn koh-HAH-koo) = white Koi with a five step hi pattern
Godan (GOH-dahn) = Five step pattern
Goi (goy) = Fish
Goke (GOH-keh) = Fish scales
Goma (GOH-mah) = Sesame’ or scattered sumi
Gosai (GOH-sigh) = 5 year old Koi
Gosanke (goh-SAHN-keh)= term that refers collectively to the ‘Big three’ of Koi keeping: Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa
Goshiki (goh-SHEE-kee) = five colored Koi, on which white, red, black, and light and dark blue are mixed to give a purplish appearance. Scale reticulation on the red and white, or on the white only
Goshiki Shusui(goh-SHEE-kee SHOO-swee) = Doitsu, non metallic blue Goshiki.
Gotenzakura (goh-tehn-ZAH-koo-rah) = Cherry pattern
Gotenzakura Kohaku (go-tehn-ZAH-koo-rah koh-HAH-koo) A cherry blossom patterned Kohaku with many hi patches
— H —
Hachi (HAH-chee) = Head
Hachi Hi (HAH-chee hee) = Early ancestor of the modern Kohaku
Hachiware (HAH-chee-WAH-reh) = Lightning stripe head pattern
Hachizumi (HAH-chee-ZOO-mee) = Black pattern that runs diagonally across the head.
Hada (hah-dah) = Sheen
Hageru(HAH-geh-roo) = No blurring on the head (relates to metallic varieties particularly)
Hageshiro (HAH-geh-SHEE-row) = Black Koi with white on the head and on the tail and pectoral fin tips
Hajiro (hah-GEE-row) = black Koi with white on the tail and pectoral fin tips
Haka Shita (HAH-kah SHEE-tah) = Sagging abdomen
Hanatsuki (hah-NAHT-SOO-kee) = Head hi extends down the nose.
Hanazumi (hah-NAH-ZOO-mee) = black pattern (or spot) around or near the mouth and nose area.
Hana Shusui (hahNAH SHOO-swee) = form of Shusui, also known as a flowery Shusui with round red markings on the sides (between the back scales and the lateral line) instead of parallel the ‘line patches’ down the sides or regular Shusui.
Hara (hah-RAH) = Abdominal area.
Hariwake (HAH-ree-WAH-keh) = Koi with two colors, one of which is platinum, the other metallic orange or yellow, double metallic cross breeding.
Hariwake Matsuba (HAH-ree-WAH-keh maht-SOO-bah) = silver and yellow metallic Koi with a black “pine cone” pattern in its scales
Heisei Nishiki (HAY-say nee-SHEE-kee) = Doitsu Yamato Nishiki. A metallic, scaleless Sanke
Hi (HEE) = General term for red
Hiagari (hi-GAH-ree) = Intensity of the red color
Hiban (hee-BAHN) = Red pattern element or red area
Hi Asagi(hee ah-SAH-gee) = Asagi whose red marking extends over the lateral line
Hi Showa (hee SHOW-wah) = predominantly red Showa
Hi Shusui (hee SHOO-swee) = Shusui whose red pattern spreads up from the belly and covers the back
Hi Botan (hee BOW-tahn) = Koi resembling Bekko, derived from Utsuri lineage
Higoi (HEE-goy) = Red Koi, usually called Akamuji (light red) or Benigoi (deep red)
Hikari (hee-KAH ree) = Metallic
Hikari Utsurimono (hee KAH-ree oot-SOO-ree-MOH-noh) = Metallic Utsuri and Showa
Hikarimono (hee-KAH-ree-MOH-noh) = Shining ones, the metallic groups
Hikarimoyo (hee-KAH-ree-MOH-yoh) = Multicolored ‘white-based’ metallic Koi
Hikari-moyomono(hee-KAH-ree MOH-yoh-MOH-noh) = classification including all metallic Koi with two or more colors, except metallic Utsuri and Showa
Hikarimuji (hee-KAH-ree-MOO-gee) = Single colored metallic Koi, with or without scale reticulation
Himozumi (hee-moh-ZOO-mee) = String-like, thin sumi pattern
Hinomaru (hee-noh-MAH-roo) = Sun rising
Hirenaga Koi (hee-reh-NAH-gah Koi) = Long-finned or butterfly Koi
Hiroshima Kinginrin (hee-ROH-shee-mah keen-geen-deen) = Kin Gin Rin as ‘cracked glass’ or diamond gin rin. Scales have bright lines running across them
Hisoku (hee-SOH-koo) = Yellow-green color
Hoaka (hoh-AH-kah) = Hi over the gill plate
Hon sumi(hohn SOO-mee) = ‘Genuine sumi’, referring to the black Sanke markings on a Koromo Sanke
Hoshi (HOH-shee) = Opening or window within the pattern
Hookazuki (hoo-kah-ZOO-kee) = black carp with red cheeks. An early ancestor of the modern Kohaku
— I —
Ichi bu (EE-chee boo) = Size one
Ichimatsu (EE-chee-maht-soo) = Checkered pattern
Inazuma (EE-nah-ZOO-mah) = Lighting-stripe pattern (zig-zag)
Ippon hi(EE-pohn-HEE) = Straight hi, renzokumoyo, continuous from head to tail
Iro (EE-row) = Color
Iroagari (EE-row-ah-GAH-ree) = The degree of color intensity
Iroage (EE-row-ah-GEH) = The act of intensifying the various colors
Iromono (EE-row-MOH-noh) = The collective name for all metallic Koi
— J —
Jari (JAH-ree) = Gravel
Jarisumi (JAH-ree-SOO-mee) = Small black sumi spots
Jihada (gee-HAH-dah) = Texture of the Koi’s skin
Jinbei (geen-BYE) = Sanke line of Koi
Juji (GOO-gee) = Cross shape
Junidaira Showa (GOON-ee-dye-rah SHOW-wah) = Very old Showa line
Jyami (JAH-mee) = Shorter word for Jarisumi
— K —
Kabuto (kah-BOO-toh) = Translates to ‘helmet’, referring to a Koi whose head color is different from that of its body.
Kagami (kah-GAH-mee) = old Koi variety with mirror scales on both the dorsal and ventral sides.
Kage (KAH-geh) = Shadow
Kakutan (kah-KOO-tahn) = Square-shaped Tancho marking
Kamisori (kah-MEE-soh-ree) = Razor border, pattern that cuts across the scale
Kanako (Kah-nah-koh) = Koi with a white body and dappled hi, appearing on single scales
Kana (KAH-nah) = Male Koi
Kao(KAH-oh)= ‘Face’; any area between the cheeks (also known as ‘men’)
Karasu (KAH-rah-soo) = totally black Koi, often tinged with a blue haze
Karasugoi (KAH-rah-SOO-goy) = ‘Crow’ Koi; black Koi from the Asagi line
Kasane Sumi (KAH-sah-neh-SOO-mee) = black marking on a red background
Katamoyo (KAH-tah-MOH-yoh) = Single sided pattern
Kata Zumi (KAH-tah ZOO-mee) = Sumi patch or patchtes on the shoulders
Kawagoi (KAH-wah-goy) = Koi with no scales except for some reflective scales on the dorsal surface
Kawarimono (kah-WAH-ree-MOH-noh) = non-metallic Koi that don’t fit into any other classification. The old name for Koi with undefined color or pattern
Kawarigoi (kah-WAH-ree-goy) = new name for Kawarimono Koi, covering all Koi varieties that do not fall under established mainstream Koi classifications
Ki (kee) = yellow
Ki Kokuryu (KEE koh-KOO-droo) = Metallic Kumonryu ‘Chrysanthemum water’
Kigoi (KEE-goy) = Yellow Koi, often having red eyes (albino line)
Kikusui (KEE-koo-swee) = Metallic doitsu Hariwake Ogon – most often seen as a doitsu Kohaku
Kin (keen) = metallic gold
Kindai (keen-DYE) = Modern
Kinitsusei (KEE-neet-SOO-say) = Uniformity of color
King Gin Rin (keen geen deen) = also known as Gin Rin (geen deen) – a Koi with silver- or gold-colored sparkling scales
Kin Ki Utsuri (KEEN kee OOT-soo-ree) = Metallic black Koi with gold markings where the gold can range in color from yellow to red
Kin Showa (KEEN SHOW-wah) = Metallic Showa Koi
Kinporai (KEEN-por-ey) = bronze metallic Matsuba Ogon
Kinrin (Keen-deen) = Koi with gold-colored sparkling scales
Kinsui (KEEN-swee) = Metallic Shusui with more hi
Kinzakura (KEEN-zah-KOO-rah) = Golden cherries; gold-bordered hi
Kirekomi (KEE-reh-KOH-mee) = Narrow white inserts into the hi rising from the sides of the Koi.
Kiwa (KEE-wah) = The edge of a patch or marking
Koborehi (koh-BOH-reh-HEE) = Scattered hi (red)
Koboresumi (koh-BOH-reh-SOO-mee) = Scattered sumi (black)
Kohaku (koh-HAH-koo) = Koi with a white body and red markings. The first Koi in the “Big Three” class of Koi
Koi-dangi (koy-dahn-gee) = Japanese term for Koi enthusiasts “talking about Koi”
Koishi (koy-shee) = Nishikigoi breeders
Koke (KOH-keh) = Scale
Kokenami (KOH-keh-NAH-mee) = Line of scales
Kokesuki (KOH-keh-SOO-kee) = Uneven color within the pattern; single colorless scales
Komoyo (koh-MOH-yoy) = Small zigzag, flowery pattern of red and white
Konjo (KAHN-joh) = Dark blue
Konzai(kahn-ZYE) = Kiwa having both maruzome and kamisori elements
Koromo (koh-ROH-moh) = ‘robed’, referring to a Koi that has a white base color, overlaid by red patterns with reticulation. A Koi show class including Ai -Goromo, Sumi Goromo, Budo Sanke, Goshiki, Koromo Sanke and Koromo Showa
Koromozumi (koh-ROH-moh-ZOO-mee) = Sumi Goromo netted sumi
Kozumi (koh-ZOO-mee) = Small black spots
Koshi (KOH-shee) = green
Kuchi (KOO-chee) = Lips, a general term.
Kuchibeni (KOO-chee-BEN-eee) = red-lipped Koi
Kuchi Zumi (KOO-chee ZOO-mee) = Sumi on the mouth
Kujaku (koo-JAH-koo) = ‘peacock’, referring to a reticulated metallic white Koi with red, orange or golden markings
Kumonryu (KOO-mahn-droo) = a black Doitsu Koi with random white patterns that change continuously until mature. Scale-less black Koi with white markings
Kumoru (KOO-morh-uuu) = Loss of color, brightness, and gloss
Kuragake (KOO-rah-GAH-keh) = Wearing a saddle; a pattern that crosses the back of the Koi like a saddle on a horse
Kuro (KOO-roh) = Black
Kurogoi (KOO-roh-goy) = Black food carp – the origin of Nishikigoi
Kurozumi (KOO-roh-ZOO-mee) = Rich, glossy black with no blue highlights
Kutsubera (KOO-tsoo-beh-RAH) = Shoehorn pattern on the head
— M —
Mado (MAH-doh) = ‘window’ in a pattern element involving more than 1 or 2 scales
Madoaki (MAH-doh-AH-kee) = ‘window’ in a red pattern
Magoi (MAH-goy) = Mud carp, originally wild carp
Makiagari (MAH-kee-ah-GAH-ree) = pattern extending from the abdomen to the upper area
Makikomi(MAH-kee-KOH-mee) = pattern extending from the upper area to the abdomen
Maruten (MOH-roo-ten) = separate, self contained hi pattern on the head with other hi patterns on the body; i.e. Maruten Kohaku
Maruzome (MOH-ruu-ZOH-meh) = Rounded, scalloped kiwa. The pattern follows the scale edges
Matsuba (maht-Sue-bah) = ‘Pine-Cone’ scale pattern; single color Koi (metallic or non-metallic) with scale reticulation
Matsukawabake (maht-Sue-kah-wah-BAHK-keh) = Scale version of the Kumonryu. A black and white Koi where the pattern transposes over time – i.e. summer and winter, although periods may be longer
Men (mehn) = ‘Face’; also kao
Menkaburi (MEHN-kah-BOO-ree) = Hi (red) covering the entire face/head – from the mouth to the gills
Menware (MEHN-wah-reh) = Lighting-strip across the head
Midorigoi (mee-DOH-ree-goy) = green doitsu Koi
Mizu (MEE-zoo) = Light blue color
Mono (MOH-noh) = One or single
Motoaka (MOH-toh-AH-kah) = Red pectoral fin joints
Motoguro (MOH-toh-GOO-roh) = Black fin joints
Moyo (MOH-yoh) = More than one color
Moyo no kire (MOH-yoh noh KEy-ray) = Sharpness of edge of the color pattern
Mudagoke (MOO-dah-GOH-keh) = Redundant scale – one out of line on a doitsu
Muji (MOO-gee) = Single solid color
Mura (MOO-rah) = state in which color is lacking uniformity
Murasakigoi (MOO-rah-sah-KEE-goy) = purple/lavender colored Koi
— N —
Nabe sumi (NAH-beh SUE-mee) = Soft gray/brown sumi from the original Tetsu Magoi line
Nagaremoyo (nah-GAH-reh-MOH-yoh) = Streaming hi pattern
Namikin (nah-MEE-keen) = Tail Fin
Namitate (nah-MEE-tah-teh) = Dorasl Fin
Narumi Asagi (nah-ROO-mee ah-SAH-gee) = Medium blue colored Asagi (traditionally blue-dyed cotton cloth). Lighter than Konjo Asagi and darker that Mizu Asagi
Nesai(NEH-say) = Over 1 year, and up to 2 years old – referring to Koi age
Nezu (NEH-zoo) = Gray color
Nezu Ogan (NEH-zoo OH-gahn) = Gray metallic scaled Koi
Ni Bu (nee BOO) = Size two
Niban (nee-BAHN) = Secondary
Niban Hi (nee-BAHN HEE) = Secondary hi, also called Asagi hi
Nidan (nee-DAHN) 2 step – as in “2-Step Kohaku” – same as “Nidan Kohaku”
Nidan hara (neeDAHN HAH-rah) = Concave abdomen
Nidan Kohaku (nee-DAHN koh-HAH-koo) = Kohaku with 2 steps of hi
Nishikigoi (nee-SHEE-key-goy) = ‘Jewelled’ carp – English term “Koi” is an abbreviation of Nishikigoi
Nosezumi (NOH-she-ZOO-mee) = sumi (black) overlapping a hi (red) pattern
— O —
Ochibashigure (oh-CHEE-bah-she-GOO-ray) = ‘Autumn leaves on the water’; a nezu (gray) Koi with one or more cha (brown) patterns
Odome (oh-DAH-may) = Last marking before the tail
Ogon (OH-gahn) = Collective name for metallic Koi
Oiya (OYE-yah) = Parent
Oiyagoi (OYE-yah-goy) = Koi brood-stock – parent Koi
Ojime (oh-GEE-may) = Gap between the last pattern marking and the tail
Omoyo (oh-MOH-yoh) = Single pattern – deep wrapping pattern
Orenji (oh-REHN-gee) = Orange color
Oyugu Hoseki (oh-YOO-goo hoh-SHE-key) = Living Jewels
Ozuke (oh-ZOO-key) = The base of the tail
Ozutsu (oh-ZOOT-sue) = Body area behind the dorsal fin
— P —
Penducle (pen-DOOK-leh) = Area just before the tail
Pongoi (POHN-goy) = Good quality fish
Purachina (poo-RAH-chee-nah) = Platinum
Renzokumoyo (REHN-zoh-KOO-moh-yoh) = Continous pattern
— R —
Rin (deen) = ‘scales’. Rin is not used as a single word, it is only used in conjunction with other descriptive words such as Gin; as in Gin Rin to describe silver metallic scales
Roku bu (ROH-koo boo) = Size 6
— S —
Sabi (SAH-bee) = Appearance of depth to the skin of scaled Koi
San bu (SAHN boo) = Size 3
Sandan(SAHN-dahn) 3-step pattern; as in Sandan Kohaku (3-Step Kohaku)
Sanke (SAHN-keh) = ‘White-based’ Koi with hi and sumi patterns (red and black)
Sanke Sumi (SAHN-keh Sue-mee) = Black typically found in small well defined patches over the body of the Koi, but not on the head. ‘Leopard-spot’ pattern. Also occurs on Bekko
Sansai (SAHN-sigh) Over 2, and up to 3 years old – referring to Koi age.
Sarasa (sah-RAH-sah) = Pattern of birds, flowers, and geometric patterns. Another term for ‘longfin’
Sashi (SAH-shee) = Blurring of the leading edge of a pattern, seen on scaled Koi
Sashikomi (SAH-she-KOH-me) = Scales covering the front edge of the pattern
Shiki bu (SHE-key boo) = Size 7
Shimi (SHE-me) = Very small black speckles, or dots, no larger than a single scale
Shiro (SHE-row) = White
Shirogoi (SHE-row-goy) = White Koi
Shiroji (she-ROW-gee) = White area
Shiromuji (SHE-row-MOO-gee) = Koi varieties who’s color disappeared and ‘turned white’
Shitsu (SHEET-sue) = nature of skin – including shiroji, hi, sumi, etc
Shochikubai (shoh-CHEE-koo-bye) = Metallic Ai-Goromo
Showa (SHOW-wah) = 3 colored Koi, black with red and white. The last of the Go-Sanke Class of Koi (The Big Three Koi) of Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa. Showa exhibit sumi in stripes or bands (similar to Utsuri), as opposed to Sanke which show sumi in spots. Showa also have sumi on the head, Sanke does not
Showa Sumi (SHOW-wah-Sue-me) = type of black pattern found in stripes and bands all over a Koi – including the head. Similar to ‘Tiger Stipes’. Showa sumi also occurs on Utsuri
Shusui (SHOE-swee) = ai (blue) Doitsu Koi with hi (red) markings usually on the sides of the body and the head
Sokozumi (SO-koo-ZOO-me) = Black that is faintly visible
Sorogoi (SO-roe-goi) = Gray Koi
Sumi (SUE-me) = Black marking
Sumi Goromo (SUE-me go-ROE-moe) = White Koi with red patterns overlaid by black reticulation
Suminagashi (Sue-me-nah-GAH-she) = black Koi with white scale reticulation
— T —
Taikei (tye-KAY) = Conformation of the body
Taisho Sanke(TYE-show SAHN-key) 3 colored Koi; shiro (white) body with hi (red) and sumi (black) markings – commonly referred to as ‘Sanke’. Unlike Showa, Sanke never have sumi on the head, and Sanke’s body sumi appears in patches, or spots – not in bands or stripes like that of the Showa. The Sanke is the second Koi in the Go-Sanke Class of Koi that is known as ‘The Big Three’
Tancho (TAN-show) = Koi with a single hi spot on the head only
Tategoi (TAH-the-goy) = Koi that posses potential for the future
Tebire (tay-BE-ray) = Pectoral fin
Tejima (tay-GE-ma) = Sumi stripes in the fins
Teri (TAY-ree) = Gloss or luster
Tetsu Magoi (TEHT-sue-MAH-goy) = Predecessor of Showa, Chagoi and Ogon lTezumi (the-ZOO-me) = Another term for sumi stripes in the fins
Tobi hi (TOE-be-HE) = Very small hi (red) spots
Tora Ogon (TOE-rah-OH-gahn) = Metallic Ki Bekko (yellow and black)
Tosai (TOE0-sigh) = In its 1st year – referring to Koi age
Tsubaki Sanke(tsue-BAH-key-SAHN-kay) = Aka Sanke (all red) with a chain of sumi (black) running the entire length of the Koi
Tsubo sumi (TSUE-bow SUE-me) = Black pattern over white skin
Tsuya (TSUE-ya) = Another term for ‘luster’
— U —
Umebachi(OO-may-BAH-chee) = Japanese apricot flower-shaped marking; i.e. Tancho spot
Uroko kiwi (oo-ROW-koh KEY wee) = Scalloped kiwa (see maruzome)
Urushizumi (oo ROO-she-ZOO-me) = Jet-black, glossy sumi (black) with a tinge of ai (blue) – also known as tsuyazumi
Utsuri (oot-SUE-ree) = ‘Reflections’ or ‘relecting ones’. A two colored Koi – always a black Koi with one other color; white, red, or yellow patches or bands. Shiro Utsuri, Hi Utsuri, and Ki Utsuri
Utsurimono (oot-SUE-ree-MOE-no) = Formal name for Utsuri
Unwappi (oon-WAH-pee) = Thin hi (red)
— W —
Wabi (WAH-bee) = Appearance of depth to the skin of scaled Koi
Wagoi (WAH-goy) = Scaled Koi – virtually all Koi except Doitsu
— Y —
Yamabuki(YAH-mah-BOO-key) = Bright gold color, as in Yamabuki Ogon
Yamatonishiki (YAH-mah-toe-nee-SHE-key) = Metallic Sanke
Yogyo (YO-Gee-yo) = Young fish
Yon bu (YON-boo) = Size 4
Yondan (YON-don) = 4 Step; as in Yondan Kohaku (4-Step Kohaku)
Yonsai (YON-say) = 4 year old Koi
Yoroigoi (your- ee-goy) = Koi with large armor scales all over its body
Yotsushiro – (YAHT-sue–SHE-roe) = Black Koi with white on the tail, pectoral fins, dorsal fin, and head
— Z —
Zubonhaki (ZOO-bahn-HA-key) = latter half of the body (the tail end) is completely red or black
Zukinkaburi (zoo-KEEN-kah-boo-ree) = Red forehead
