Fish in Japanese

From sushi to giant squids, the Japanese are famous for their sea creatures. Being an island nation, it's no surprise that fish are an important part of Japanese cuisine. Today we take a look at different kinds of さかな (saka) "fish" in Japanese.

Resources for further reading:
- The top ten "learn Japanese" hacks - Learn how you can improve your Japanese pronunciation

Fish Names in Japanese

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魚

さかな

sakana

fish

Some of these sea creatures you might find on your plate, and some you might see on a snorkeling trip or in a fish tank peeking out from behind some coral! Either way, this is important vocabulary to know while traveling.

鰊

にしん

nishin

herring

クラゲ

kurage

jellyfish

ロブスター

robusutā

lobster

カニ

kani

crab

牡蠣

かき

kaki

oyster

イカ

ika

squid

鮫

さめ

same

shark

イルカ

iruka

dolphin

鯨

くじら

kujira

whale

鮭

さけ

sake

salmon

鱒

ます

masu

trout

竜の落とし子

たつのおとしご

tatsuno-otoshigo

seahorse

カワカマス

kawakamasu

pike

貽貝

いがい

igai

mussel

鯉

こい

koi

carp

鮪

まぐろ

maguro

tuna

鰻

うなぎ

unagi

eel

Great! You now have a new set of words to add to your Japanese vocabulary list. Food in Japan can contain many new and diverse flavors, so be brave and order something new. You won’t be disappointed! If you want more on Japanese words then check these out!

Learn some basic Japanese words, they'll come in handy.
Got an emergency? I hope not! Learn some emergency Japanese words just in case!
Like seafood? Know your fish in Japanese with this lesson.

また　ね！ (Mata ne!) "See you later!"

Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese

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We love Japanese people and Japanese culture - from riveting anime and comforting ramen to the majestic Mt. Fuji and the breathtaking sights of Kyōto! And there's no better way to connect with them than by learning 日本語 (Japanese).