[Etymology] Nihon Shakumei (28) Fish (Carp, Crucian Carp, Sea Bream, Sea Eel, Loach, etc.)
|Carp
"Koi" (carp) is "koe" (fat/rich). Its body is fat. Also, its taste is richer than other fish. "I" and "e" are interchangeable.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Crucian Carp
When boiled and eaten, the bones are soft, as if they were not there. It is "hone-nashi" (boneless). "Ho" and "fu" are interchangeable. The "ne" is omitted.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Japanese Seaperch
It is a fish whose body is white and looks clean, as if it has been rinsed (suzuki). Its small form is called "|Songjiang (Seugau)". This is "seigo". It is said that the seaperch of Songjiang in China is smaller than the Japanese seaperch. This must be the "seigo".
* "Kiyoge-naru" means clean/neat. * Reference: "
Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Sea Bream
It is a "taira-uo" (flat fish). Its shape is flat. Therefore, it is written as "flat fish" in the "Engishiki". Also, in colloquial language, it is called "hira". Some say "tahi" or "tahi" fish is a Korean name.
* "Engishiki" is the Engi-shiki. * Reference: "
Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Cod
It is "madara" (spotted). Its skin is slightly spotted. The character "ma" is omitted.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Fish
Because they have scales and swim, the "u" from "uroko" (scales) and the "o" from "oyogu" (to swim) were taken. Some say it is called "uo" because it swims by floating. One theory says it means there are many. Fish are abundant in the sea and rivers, and even if caught constantly, they do not run out. "Oho" (many) and "uo" (fish) are phonetically interchangeable. These theories are all valid.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Bonito
"Katsuo" is "kata-uo" (hard fish). It is because it becomes hard when dried. "Ta" and "tsu" are interchangeable. The "u" is omitted.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Flatfish
It is "kataware-uo" (split/half fish). This fish has one side that changes color to white, and its eyes are also on one side. It is like a split piece. "Tawa" is omitted. "I" is "iwo". "Uwo" and "iwo" are interchangeable. The character "wo" is omitted.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Eel
In the poems of Otomo no Yakamochi in the "Man'yoshu", it is written as "munagi". "Wamyosho" is the same. Because "mu" and "u" are phonetically interchangeable, it is also called "unagi". "Munagi" is "munagi" (ridge-fish). Its shape is round and long, resembling the ridge of a house.
* "Ka" refers to a poem (uta).
* The "poems by Otomo no Yakamochi reading munagi" are the following two:
I say to Ishimaro, for summer fatigue,
there is a good thing, take and eat eel (munagi).
Even if you are wasting away, if you are alive, that is enough; why, oh why,
do you go into the river to catch eels (munagi) and get washed away?
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Daggertooth Pike Conger
This is a Tang (Chinese) pronunciation. It is not a Japanese word.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Sardine
It is "iyashi" (lowly). It means the fish is lowly. Some say it is "yowashi" (weak). It is because it dies quickly after being caught.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Whale
It is "kuroshira" (black-white). Its skin is black, and its meat is white. In "Wamyosho", it is written as "kujira". "Shi" and "chi" are interchangeable.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Catfish
"Nama" means "nameraka" (smooth). "Me" and "ma" are interchangeable. "Zu" is a filler character. This fish is smooth and hard to catch.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien, Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Sushi
Delicious sushi.
|Dragon
"Tatsu" means to stand. Birds, beasts, insects, and fish all move horizontally. When this creature ascends to the heavens, it stands its body in the sky. |Mizuchi is a |Water Dragon. "Ta" and "chi" are interchangeable.
* "|Mizuchi" is an imaginary animal resembling a dragon. Mizuchi. * Reference: "
Ko Bunko, Vol. 20" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Flying Fish
A creature in the sea that spreads its fins and flies far.
|Mackerel
"Sawa" is "|Small Teeth". "Sa" means slight, or small. This fish has smaller teeth compared to other fish.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien, Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Bullhead
It is a |River Deer. A fish found in mountain rivers. It cries at night, and its voice is loud. Hence the name. Colloquially, it is also called "utautai" (singer).
* "|River Deer" is Kajika. The character 𢈘 is a variant of deer. * Reference: "
Koji Ruien, Vol. 49" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
|Konoshiro (Dotted Gizzard Shad)
Originally, this fish was called "tsunashi". When this fish is grilled, its smell resembles that of burning a person.
Long ago, a certain man, misled by his second wife and believing her |slander, ordered his servant to kill the child born to his first wife. The servant, knowing the child was innocent, secretly hid and sent the child away, and instead of the child, grilled many "tsunashi" fish, telling the father that he had killed and cremated the child. From then on, this fish was called "Child's |Substitute". It is a substitute for a child.
In an ancient poem, it is written:
In the eight islands of Muro on the eastern road,
Whose child is being grilled as a tsunashi?
* "Whose child is being grilled as a tsunashi?" refers to whose substitute (shiro) is being grilled as a tsunashi. This phrasing varies by literature. * Reference: "
Koji Ruien, Vol. 49", "Wakan Sansai Zue, Vol. 21-52", "Katakoto: With Appendix, Monorui Shoko, Naniwa Kikigaki, Tanba Tsuji", "Fish and Art" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Ayu (Sweetfish)
It is 'ayuru'. 'Ayuru' means 'to fall' (otsuru). It is an archaic word. In spring, they swim upstream, and in autumn, they fall from the upper reaches of the river downstream.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 49' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Sawara (Spanish Mackerel)
'Sa' means 'narrow' (sa). It means 'narrow' (sebaki). 'Hara' means 'belly' (hara). Although this fish is long and large, its belly is narrow and small.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 49' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Tako (Octopus)
'Ta' means 'hand' (te). 'Ko' means 'many' (kokora). It refers to something large. It is a creature with many hands. Also, it is said that 'ko' is interchangeable with 'ka'. It means long-handed.
Buri (Yellowtail)
It is a fish with a lot of oil (abura). The beginning of 'abura' is omitted. 'Ra' and 'ri' are interchangeable.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 49' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Sake (Salmon)
Sake is 'to tear' (sake). Its meat is easily torn into pieces, which is different from other fish. 'Hararako' means 'child in the belly' (hara ni aru ko). The 'ru' in 'aru' is interchangeable with 'ra'.
* Reference: 'Koji Ruien Vol. 49' (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read the 'Self-Introduction/Disclaimer'. 📖