鯉
Let’s learn Japanese kanji 鯉!
今日は『鯉』という漢字の勉強！
鯉 - こい koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)
鯉幟 - こいのぼり a carp streamer - a carp banner/windsock typically hung to mark the Children’s day celebrations
錦鯉 - にしきごい a coloured carp
真鯉 - まごい a black carp, black koi
緋鯉 - ひごい a red carp, golden carp
鯉口 - こいぐち mouth of a (sword) sheath
養鯉 - ようり carp breeding
俎板(の上)の鯉 - まないた(のうえ)のこい to be doomed; to be confronted with a hopeless situation and unable to do anything (lit. a carp on the chopping board)
P.S. Did you know that carp streamers (koi nobori) mark the Kodomo no Hi 子供の日 celebrations on May 5th each year? There are traditionally 3 carps: black koi carp symbolises the father, red golden carp - the mother, and the smaller ones that follow symbolise the children in the family. Traditionally this holiday was celebrating the boys only as girls have their own holiday in March (you can read more about it here), however nowadays carps are hung from windows and balconies irrespectively of the child’s gender.
