Koi Terminology

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Below you'll find help to understand what the Japanese names for many of the Koi stand for.

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What kind of Koi do I have? The table below shows some of the most common Japanese terms relating to or describing Koi, their color, and or their markings. Keep in mind that many lesser expensive Koi are referred to as "pond grade Koi" and it is some times hard or even possible to name a pond grade variety of Koi.

On the other hand, most Koi from Japan, those bred in Japan will follow the descriptions below. It should also be known that "above average pond grade fish" do come in from Japan and into the US market. In general, the Koi descriptions in the table below refer to Japanese bred Koi. There can also be domestic bred fish from Japanese parent stock that are sometimes referred to as Japanese fish.

	Translation
Ai Goromo	A white Koi with a red pattern like a Kohaku. However, each red scale is reticulated in black or dark blue.
Aka Bekko	Red Koi with black markings
Asagi	Koi with a blue back, some red on its "cheeks," pectoral fins, and below the lateral line
Bekko	White Koi with black random markings
Beni	Red
Benigoi	An orange/red Koi.
Budo	Grape. What the heck does this have to do with a Koi? Well, it generally refers to the pattern on the fish as looking like a bunch of grapes...
Cha	Translated it means "tea" in both Japanese and Chinese.
Chagoi	Typically the largest and most friendly of all Koi. When it comes to Koi, it is usually used as Chagoi non-metallic tan, to brown colored Koi.
Doitsu	A term that developed from the word for German/Deutsch. The Koi has scales on along its dorsal fin. A leather Koi is a Doitsu with no scales; a mirror Koi is one that has scales along its dorsal fin AND along its lateral line and around the mouth.
Enyu	A sort of purple colored Koi with red markings
Fukurin	Reticulated effect on the scales on a Koi created by shiny skin around the scale
Gin	Silver
Gin-rin	Metallic silver scales that sparkle like diamonds
Go Sanke	Refers to the main categories that includes Kohaku, Sanke, and Showa.
Goshiki	A five colored Koi -white, red, black, dark blue, and light blue
Hajiro	A black Koi with a white nose, and white at the tips of its fins
Hariwake	A platinum Koi with orange, yellow, or gold markings. These are always either Ginrin or Doitsu
Hi	Red
Hikarimonyo	Multi-colored Koi except Utsuri and Showa.
Kage	A shadowy black reticulated marking on a Koi's scales
Kanoko Kohaku	A white Koi with a "dappled" red pattern
Karasu	Means "crow." The Japanese believe a black Koi in the pond is good luck
Karasugoi	black fish with white or orange belly
Ki Utsuri	Black Koi with yellow markings, usually but not always Doitsu
Kigoi	Non-metallic yellow Koi
Kin	Kinrin gold scales that sparkle like diamonds, metallic gold
Kinginrin	Silver and gold scales that sparkle like diamonds, metallic gold and silver scales
Kiwa	The edges of the Patten on a Koi
Kohaku	A white Koi with red markings
Koi Kichi	Translated "Koi crazy..." If you can identify with my "Addiction page," you are Koi Kichi
Koromo	Translates as "robed." The red color on the fish is overlaid with blue or black edging.
Kuchibeni	Translates as "lipstick." Red markings on the mouth giving the look of the Koi wearing lipstick
Kumonryu	Black Doitsu Koi with a bit of white on its head, fins, and body.
Leather Carp	A "Doitsu" fish with no scales
Magoi	An all black Koi that has scales
Maruten	A Koi with a circular red marking on its head, that are different from the body colors.
Matsuba	Pine cone pattern or often referred to as a "netting" pattern. It looks like the fish has a piece of netting laid over its body
Midori	Translates as "melon." refers to a light green colored Koi. Either scaled or Doitsu
Mirror Carp	A "Doitsu" Koi has large shiny scales along its dorsal fin and lateral line and gills
Motoguro	The black markings on the base of the pectoral fins on a Showa or Utsuri type Koi
Muji	Fish of one color Shiro muji for instance refers to an all white fish
Nindan	Term referring to two distinct markings of the same color on a Koi. A Kohaku that has 2 distinct red markings with white in between would be referred to as Nindan or a 2 step Kohaku
Ochiba Shigure	Translates as "autumn leaves on water." Its a blue gray Koi with brown markings.
Ogon	Koi of a single color
Orenji	Orange
Sandan	Three distinct markings of the same color on a Koi. See description above of Nindan.
Sanke	White Koi with red and black markings easily for a beginner to confuse with Showa
Shiro	White
Shiro Bekko	White Koi with black markings
Shiro Utsuri	Black Koi with white markings. Must have distinct black on his head. Inside of mouth will also be black. Some times confused with Bekko
Showa	Black Koi with red and white markings
Shusui	An Asagi without scales. Sky blue or sometimes referred to as gray/blue with dark blue/black mirror scales along the dorsal and lateral lines and sometimes near the gills. Red on along the sides, near the mouth and sometimes on the fins. If the red is above the lateral line the fish is then HI shusui. Shusui is always doitsu and I have seen some that have some ginrin scales from cross breeding.
Soragoi	A blue gray Koi
Sumi	Black
Tancho	A Koi with a red circular spot on its head. The spot should be well placed above and between the eyes in better Koi.
Tategoi	Translates "not yet finished, still developing..."
Yamabuki	Yellow
Yondan	Term meaning four distinct markings of the same color on a Koi. Or sometimes referred as 4 steps of a single color with white in between.

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