魚

See also: 鱼, 漁, and 鱻

魚 U+9B5A, 魚 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-9B5A ← 魙 [U+9B59] CJK Unified Ideographs 魛 → [U+9B5B]

⿂ U+2FC2, ⿂ KANGXI RADICAL FISH ← ⿁ [U+2FC1] Kangxi Radicals ⿃ → [U+2FC3]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order (Japan)

Stroke order

Han character

魚 (Kangxi radical 195, 魚+0, 11 strokes, cangjie input 弓田火 (NWF), four-corner 2733₆, composition ⿳⺈田灬)

1. Kangxi radical #195, ⿂.

Derived characters

• Appendix:Chinese radical/魚
• 漁, 龽, 䐳, 䁩, 䗨, 穌, 䔡, 㱎

Additional Derived Characters

• 𠽐, 𡐚, 𡠵, 𢐗, 𢠐, 𢳶, 𣊘, 𣩕, 𮃣, 𨢭, 𠓈, 𨫷, 𩥭, 𱆏
• 𫑨, 𪽟, 𩅔, 𢊧, 𤹿, 𫊣, 𢖍, 𨶢, 𪗏, 𭍯
• 𤀸, 𤃖, 𫹂, 㱎, 𧓀, 𮒿, 𧅹, 𮓖, 𪺚, 𥩑, 𥩎, 𥷉, 𥷲, 𠏣, 𨏎, 𨽇

Related characters

• 鱼 (Simplified Chinese)
• 𩵋 (Variant Chinese character)

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1465, character 1
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 45956
• Dae Jaweon: page 1998, character 1
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 7, page 4674, character 1
• Unihan data for U+9B5A

Chinese

trad.		魚
simp.		鱼
alternative forms		𤉯 𤋳 𩵋 𮫬

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 魚
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (魚) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
蘇	*sŋaː
穌	*sŋaː
魚	*ŋa
漁	*ŋa
䱷	*ŋa

Pictogram (象形) – a fish. A conservative variant is 𤋳.

Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *s-ŋja. Cognate with 漁 (OC *ŋa, “to fish”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): yú (yu²)

  (Zhuyin): ㄩˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): yu²

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): yú

  (Nanjing, Nanjing Pinyin): yú

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): йү (yü, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): jyu⁴ / jyu^4-2

  (Dongguan, Jyutping++): jyu⁴

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): ngui³ / ngui^3* / ngui^3-4 / ngui^3-4*

• Gan (Wiktionary): nyie⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): ǹg

  (Hailu, HRS): ng

  (Meixian, Guangdong): n²

• Jin (Wiktionary): y¹
• Northern Min (KCR): ngṳ̂
• Eastern Min (BUC): ngṳ̀
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): hy² / gy²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): hî / hû / hîr / gû / gîr / gî

  (Teochew, Peng'im): he⁵ / hu⁵

  (Leizhou, Leizhou Pinyin): hu⁵ / yi⁵

• Southern Pinghua (Nanning, Jyutping++): jyu⁴
• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ⁶ng / ²ng / ²ngei / ⁶yu / ²yu
  • (Jinhua): ²gniu
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): y²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: yú
    • Zhuyin: ㄩˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: yú
    • Wade–Giles: yü²
    • Yale: yú
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yu
    • Palladius: юй (juj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y³⁵/
      
  • (Standard Chinese, erhua-ed) (魚兒 / 鱼儿)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: yúr
    • Zhuyin: ㄩˊㄦ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: yúr
    • Wade–Giles: yü²-ʼrh
    • Yale: yúr
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yuel
    • Palladius: юйр (jujr)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /yə̯ɻ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: yu²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: y
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y²¹/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: yú
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y²⁴/
  • (Nanjing)
    • Nanjing Pinyin: yú
    • Nanjing Pinyin (numbered): yu²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y²⁴/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: йү (yü, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: jyu⁴ / jyu^4-2
    • Yale: yùh / yú
    • Cantonese Pinyin: jy⁴ / jy^4-2
    • Guangdong Romanization: yu⁴ / yu^4-2
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /jyː²¹/, /jyː²¹⁻³⁵/
  • (Dongguan, Guancheng)
    • Jyutping++: jyu⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /zyu²¹/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ngui³ / ngui^3* / ngui^3-4 / ngui^3-4*
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵑɡui²²/, /ᵑɡui²²⁻²²⁵/, /ᵑɡui²²⁻²¹/, /ᵑɡui²²⁻²¹⁵/

Note: ngui3-4* - standalone word for "fish".

• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: nyie⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /n̠ʲie³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ǹg
    • Hakka Romanization System: ng^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: ng²
    • Sinological IPA: /ŋ̍¹¹/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: ng
    • Sinological IPA: /ŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: n²
    • Sinological IPA: /n̩¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: y¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /y¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ngṳ̂
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋy³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: ngṳ̀
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋy⁵³/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: hy²
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: hṳ́
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hy¹³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: hy²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hy²⁴/
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: gy²
    • Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: gṳ́
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ky¹³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: gy²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ky²⁴/

Note:

• hy2 - vernacular;
• gy2 - literary.

• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung, Yilan, Hsinchu, Philippines, Longyan)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hî
    • Tâi-lô: hî
    • Phofsit Daibuun: hii
    • Sinological IPA (Zhangpu): /hi²¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Jinjiang, Tainan, Yilan, Philippines): /hi²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Longyan): /hi¹¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhangzhou): /hi¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Kaohsiung): /hi²³/
  • (Hokkien: Taipei, Magong, Penang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hû
    • Tâi-lô: hû
    • Phofsit Daibuun: huu
    • Sinological IPA (Taipei): /hu²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Penang): /hu²³/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Nan'an, Yongchun, Lukang, Sanxia, Kinmen, Hsinchu, Singapore)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hîr
    • Tâi-lô: hîr
    • Sinological IPA (Lukang): /hɨ²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou, Nan'an, Yongchun, Kinmen, Singapore): /hɯ²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: gû
    • Tâi-lô: gû
    • Phofsit Daibuun: guu
    • Sinological IPA (Kaohsiung): /ɡu²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Xiamen, Taipei): /ɡu²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: gîr
    • Tâi-lô: gîr
    • Sinological IPA (Quanzhou): /ɡɯ²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: gî
    • Tâi-lô: gî
    • Phofsit Daibuun: gii
    • Sinological IPA (Zhangzhou): /ɡi¹³/

Note:

• hî/hû/hîr - vernacular;
• gû/gîr/gî - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: he⁵ / hu⁵
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: hṳ̂ / hû
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /hɯ⁵⁵/, /hu⁵⁵/

Note:

• he5 - Chaozhou, Shantou, Chenghai, Jieyang;
• hu5 - Chaoyang, Puning, Huilai.

• (Leizhou)
  • Leizhou Pinyin: hu⁵ / yi⁵
  • Sinological IPA: /hu²²/, /zi²²/

Note:

• hu5 - vernacular;
• yi5 - literary.

• Southern Pinghua
  • (Nanning Pinghua, Tingzi)
    • Jyutping++: jyu⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /jy²¹/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶ng
    • MiniDict: ng^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hhngg
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ŋ̍²³/
  • (Northern: Jiading, Songjiang, Suzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan)
    • Wugniu: ²ng
    • MiniDict: ng^平
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /ŋ̍³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Songjiang): /ŋ̍³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /ŋ̍²²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /ŋ̍³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /ŋ̍²³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /ŋ̍³¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhoushan): /ŋ̍²²/
  • (Northern: Chongming)
    • Wugniu: ²ngei
    • MiniDict: ngei^平
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ɦŋei²⁴/
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶yu
    • MiniDict: yu^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³hhy
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɦy²³/
  • (Northern: Jiading, Songjiang, Chongming, Suzhou, Changzhou, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan)
    • Wugniu: ²yu
    • MiniDict: yu^平
    • Sinological IPA (Jiading): /ɦy³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Songjiang): /ɦy³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Chongming): /ɦy²⁴/
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /ɦy²²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Changzhou): /ɦy¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /ɦy³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Hangzhou): /ɦy²³/
    • Sinological IPA (Shaoxing): /ɦy²³¹/
    • Sinological IPA (Ningbo): /ɦy³¹³/
    • Sinological IPA (Zhoushan): /ɦy²²/
  • (Jinhua)
    • Wugniu: ²gniu
    • Sinological IPA (Jinhua): /n̠ʲy³¹³/

Note:

• ng/ngei - colloquial;
• yu - literary.

• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: y²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /y¹³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 魚
Mandarin	Beijing	/y³⁵/
	Harbin	/y²⁴/
	Tianjin	/y⁴⁵/
	Jinan	/y⁴²/
	Qingdao	/y⁴²/
	Zhengzhou	/y⁴²/
	Xi'an	/y²⁴/
	Xining	/y²⁴/
	Yinchuan	/y⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/y⁵³/
	Ürümqi	/y⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/y²¹³/
	Chengdu	/y³¹/
	Guiyang	/i²¹/
	Kunming	/i³¹/
	Nanjing	/y²⁴/
	Hefei	/zz̩ʷ⁵⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/y¹¹/
	Pingyao	/ȵy¹³/
	Hohhot	/y³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/ŋ̍²³/ /ɦy²³/
	Suzhou	/ɦy¹³/ /ŋ¹³/
	Hangzhou	/ɦz̩ʷ²¹³/
	Wenzhou	/ŋøy³¹/
Hui	Shexian	/ny⁴⁴/
	Tunxi	/ȵy⁴⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/y¹³/
	Xiangtan	/y¹²/
Gan	Nanchang	/ȵie⁴⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/n̩¹¹/
	Taoyuan	/ŋ̍¹¹/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/jy²¹/
	Nanning	/y²¹/
	Hong Kong	/jy²¹/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/gu³⁵/ /hi³⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/ŋy⁵³/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/ŋy³³/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/hɯ⁵⁵/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/zi³¹/ /hu³¹/

---

• Middle Chinese: ngjo

Rime
Character	魚
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	疑 (31)
Final (韻)	魚 (22)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	語居切
Baxter	ngjo
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ŋɨʌ/
Pan Wuyun	/ŋiɔ/
Shao Rongfen	/ŋiɔ/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ŋɨə̆/
Li Rong	/ŋiɔ/
Wang Li	/ŋĭo/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ŋi̯wo/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yú
Expected Cantonese Reflex	jyu4

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*[r.ŋ]a/

  (Zhengzhang): /*ŋa/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	魚
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	yú
Middle Chinese	‹ ngjo ›
Old Chinese	/*[r.ŋ]a/
English	fish (n.)
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	魚
Reading #	1/1
No.	15939
Phonetic component	魚
Rime group	魚
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	魚
Old Chinese	/*ŋa/

Definitions

魚

1. fish (Classifier: 條／条 m c h j mb x; 尾 m h mn mn-t; 隻／只 g mn x; 頭／头 mb md; 梗 w)
2. Used in names of aquatic animals.

   甲魚／甲鱼  ―  jiǎyú  ―  softshell turtle

   鮑魚／鲍鱼  ―  bàoyú  ―  abalone

   鱷魚／鳄鱼  ―  èyú  ―  crocodilian; crocodile and alligator in general

   墨斗魚／墨斗鱼  ―  mòdǒuyú  ―  cuttlefish

   文昌魚／文昌鱼  ―  wénchāngyú  ―  lancelet

3. fish (as a food)
4. (～日) (telegraphy) the sixth day of a month
5. ancient form of 漁 / 渔 (yú)
6. Ancient form of 吾 (OC *ŋaː).
7. a surname

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 魚 (“fish”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		魚
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	魚
	Taiwan	魚
	Singapore	魚
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	魚
Jiaoliao Mandarin	Yantai (Muping)	魚
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	魚
	Wanrong	魚
	Xi'an	魚
	Xining	魚兒, 魚娃兒
	Xuzhou	魚
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	魚
	Masanchin (Shaanxi Dungan)	魚
Lanyin Mandarin	Yinchuan	魚
	Lanzhou	魚兒
	Ürümqi	魚
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	魚, 擺尾子
	Wuhan	魚
	Guiyang	魚
	Guilin	魚
	Liuzhou	魚
Jianghuai Mandarin	Nanjing	魚
	Yangzhou	魚
	Hefei	魚
Cantonese	Guangzhou	魚
	Hong Kong	魚
	Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou)	魚
	Macau	魚
	Guangzhou (Panyu)	魚
	Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu)	魚
	Guangzhou (Conghua)	魚
	Guangzhou (Zengcheng)	魚
	Foshan	魚
	Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai)	魚
	Foshan (Shunde)	魚
	Foshan (Sanshui)	魚
	Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming)	魚
	Zhongshan (Shiqi)	魚
	Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou)	魚
	Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka)	魚
	Zhuhai (Doumen)	魚
	Jiangmen (Baisha)	魚
	Jiangmen (Xinhui)	魚
	Taishan	魚
	Kaiping (Chikan)	魚
	Enping (Niujiang)	魚
	Heshan (Yayao)	魚
	Dongguan	魚
	Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an)	魚
	Yangjiang	魚
	Singapore (Guangfu)	魚
Gan	Nanchang	魚
	Lichuan	魚
	Pingxiang	魚仔, 魚
Hakka	Meixian	魚仔, 魚
	Dabu (Xihe)	魚仔
	Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua)	魚
	Dongguan (Qingxi)	魚
	Shenzhen (Shatoujiao)	魚
	Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui)	魚
	Wuhua (Shuizhai)	魚
	Wuhua (Huacheng)	魚哩
	Wuhua (Changbu)	魚哩
	Wuhua (Mianyang)	魚哩
	Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua)	魚
	Jiexi	魚
	Luhe	魚
	Changting	魚
	Longyan (Yongding)	魚
	Longyan (Xiayang, Yongding)	魚
	Longyan (Gaobei, Yongding)	魚
	Longyan (Hukeng, Yongding)	魚
	Wuping (Zhongshan)	魚
	Liancheng (Peitian)	魚
	Liancheng (Zhongbao)	魚
	Yudu	魚子, 魚
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	魚仔
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	魚仔
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	魚仔
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	魚
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	魚仔, 魚
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	魚
	Chengdu (Longtan)	魚子
	Chengdu (Shiling)	魚子
	Chengdu (Longwang)	魚子
	Chengdu (Shibantan)	魚子
	Weiyuan (Guanyingtan)	魚子
	Yilong (Ma'an)	魚
	Xichang (Huanglianguan)	魚子
	Sabah (Longchuan)	魚
	Kuala Lumpur (Dabu)	魚
	Bangkok (Meixian)	魚仔
	Bangkok (Fengshun)	魚
Huizhou	Jixi	魚
Jin	Taiyuan	魚
	Xinzhou	魚兒
Northern Min	Jian'ou	魚
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	魚
Southern Min	Xiamen	魚
	Quanzhou	魚
	Jinjiang	魚
	Shishi	魚
	New Taipei (Tamsui)	魚
	New Taipei (Pingxi)	魚
	Kaohsiung (Cijin)	魚
	Kaohsiung (Dalinpu, Siaogang)	魚
	Yilan (Toucheng)	魚
	Tainan	魚
	Tainan (Anping)	魚
	Penghu (Xiyu)	魚
	Singapore (Hokkien)	魚
	Manila (Hokkien)	魚
	Chaozhou	魚
	Singapore (Teochew)	魚
	Leizhou	魚
	Haikou	魚
	Singapore (Hainanese)	魚
Zhongshan Min	Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)	魚
	Zhongshan (Sanxiang)	魚
Southern Pinghua	Nanning (Tingzi)	魚
Wu	Shanghai	魚, 啊魚
	Shanghai (Chongming)	魚
	Suzhou	魚
	Danyang	魚
	Hangzhou	魚
	Wenzhou	魚
Xiang	Changsha	魚
	Shuangfeng	魚

Compounds

• 五餅二魚 / 五饼二鱼 (wǔbǐng'èryú)
• 人魚 / 人鱼 (rényú)
• 伯魚 / 伯鱼
• 印魚 / 印鱼
• 叉魚 / 叉鱼
• 史魚 / 史鱼
• 嘉魚 / 嘉鱼 (Jiāyú)
• 團魚 / 团鱼 (tuányú)
• 射魚 / 射鱼
• 帶魚 / 带鱼 (dàiyú)
• 恩魚 / 恩鱼
• 懸魚 / 悬鱼
• 扁魚 / 扁鱼
• 打魚 / 打鱼 (dǎyú)
• 捕魚 / 捕鱼 (bǔyú)
• 挫魚 / 挫鱼
• 摸魚 / 摸鱼 (mōyú)
• 撲魚 / 扑鱼
• 放魚 / 放鱼
• 文魚 / 文鱼 (wényú)
• 斑魚 / 斑鱼
• 旗魚 / 旗鱼 (qíyú)
• 木魚 / 木鱼 (mùyú)
• 板魚 / 板鱼 (bǎnyú)
• 柴魚 / 柴鱼 (cháiyú)
• 枯魚 / 枯鱼
• 梭魚 / 梭鱼 (suōyú)
• 比目魚 / 比目鱼 (bǐmùyú)
• 水魚 / 水鱼 (shuǐyú)
• 池魚 / 池鱼
• 沙丁魚 / 沙丁鱼 (shādīngyú)
• 沙魚 / 沙鱼 (shāyú)
• 河魚 / 河鱼 (Héyú)
• 炸魚 / 炸鱼
• 烏賊魚 / 乌贼鱼 (wūzéiyú)
• 烏魚 / 乌鱼 (wūyú)
• 煙仔魚 / 烟仔鱼 (ian-á-hî)
• 狼魚 / 狼鱼
• 甲魚 / 甲鱼
• 白魚 / 白鱼 (báiyú)
• 皋魚 / 皋鱼
• 箭魚 / 箭鱼 (jiànyú)
• 紅魚 / 红鱼 (hóngyú)
• 絲魚 / 丝鱼
• 腳魚 / 脚鱼 (jiǎoyú)
• 臘魚 / 腊鱼
• 臥魚 / 卧鱼
• 花魚湖 / 花鱼湖 (Huāyúhú)
• 草魚 / 草鱼 (cǎoyú)
• 蝴蝶魚 / 蝴蝶鱼 (húdié yú)
• 蟲魚 / 虫鱼
• 蠹魚 / 蠹鱼 (dùyú)
• 衣魚 / 衣鱼 (yīyú)
• 角魚 / 角鱼 (jiǎoyú)
• 豚魚 / 豚鱼
• 貫魚 / 贯鱼
• 醃魚 / 腌鱼 (yānyú)
• 金槍魚 / 金枪鱼 (jīnqiāngyú)
• 金魚 / 金鱼 (jīnyú)
• 釣魚 / 钓鱼 (diàoyú)
• 銀魚 / 银鱼 (yínyú)
• 雙魚 / 双鱼 (Shuāngyú)
• 雪魚 / 雪鱼 (xuěyú)
• 電魚 / 电鱼
• 青魚 / 青鱼 (qīngyú)
• 章魚 / 章鱼 (zhāngyú)
• 飛魚 / 飞鱼 (fēiyú)
• 香魚 / 香鱼 (xiāngyú)
• 鬥魚 / 斗鱼 (dòuyú)
• 魚丸 / 鱼丸 (yúwán)
• 魚伯 / 鱼伯
• 魚信 / 鱼信
• 魚兒 / 鱼儿
• 魚具 / 鱼具 (yújù)
• 魚刀 / 鱼刀
• 魚刺 / 鱼刺 (yúcì)
• 魚卵 / 鱼卵 (yúluǎn)
• 魚叉 / 鱼叉 (yúchā)
• 魚口 / 鱼口
• 魚塭 / 鱼塭 (yúwēn)
• 魚塘 / 鱼塘 (yútáng)
• 魚子 / 鱼子 (yúzǐ)
• 魚子醬 / 鱼子酱 (yúzǐjiàng)
• 魚封 / 鱼封
• 魚尾 / 鱼尾 (yúwěi)
• 魚尾紋 / 鱼尾纹 (yúwěiwén)
• 魚市 / 鱼市 (yúshì)
• 魚情 / 鱼情
• 魚找魚，蝦找蝦 / 鱼找鱼，虾找虾
• 魚拓 / 鱼拓
• 魚排 / 鱼排
• 魚書 / 鱼书
• 魚服 / 鱼服
• 魚木 / 鱼木
• 魚板 / 鱼板 (yúbǎn)
• 魚梁
• 魚梯 / 鱼梯
• 魚樂 / 鱼乐
• 魚死網破 / 鱼死网破 (yúsǐwǎngpò)
• 魚水 / 鱼水 (yúshuǐ)
• 魚水情 / 鱼水情
• 魚汛 / 鱼汛 (yúxùn)
• 魚池 / 鱼池 (yúchí)
• 魚沉 / 鱼沉
• 魚油 / 鱼油 (yúyóu)
• 魚漂 / 鱼漂 (yúpiāo)
• 魚爛 / 鱼烂
• 魚片 / 鱼片 (yúpiàn)
• 魚狗 / 鱼狗 (yúgǒu)
• 魚白 / 鱼白 (yúbái)
• 魚目混珠 / 鱼目混珠 (yúmùhùnzhū)
• 魚眼 / 鱼眼 (yúyǎn)
• 魚秧 / 鱼秧
• 魚秧子 / 鱼秧子
• 魚窩頭 / 鱼窝头 (Yúwōtóu)
• 魚竿 / 鱼竿 (yúgān)
• 魚符 / 鱼符
• 魚笱 / 鱼笱 (yúgǒu)
• 魚箋 / 鱼笺
• 魚簍 / 鱼篓 (yúlǒu)
• 魚米之鄉 / 鱼米之乡 (yúmǐzhīxiāng)
• 魚粉 / 鱼粉
• 魚粕 / 鱼粕
• 魚紋 / 鱼纹
• 魚網 / 鱼网 (yúwǎng)
• 魚線 / 鱼线
• 魚繭 / 鱼茧
• 魚缸 / 鱼缸 (yúgāng)
• 魚网
• 魚罟 / 鱼罟
• 魚群 / 鱼群 (yúqún)
• 魚群探測器 / 鱼群探测器
• 魚翅 / 鱼翅 (yúchì)
• 魚肉 / 鱼肉 (yúròu)
• 魚肚 / 鱼肚 (yúdǔ)
• 魚肝油 / 鱼肝油 (yúgānyóu)
• 魚肚白 / 鱼肚白 (yúdùbái)
• 魚肥 / 鱼肥
• 魚脣 / 鱼唇 (yúchún)
• 魚腥 / 鱼腥 (yúxīng)
• 魚膠 / 鱼胶 (yújiāo)
• 魚花 / 鱼花 (yúhuā)
• 魚苗 / 鱼苗 (yúmiáo)
• 魚藤 / 鱼藤
• 魚藻 / 鱼藻
• 魚虎 / 鱼虎 (yúhǔ)
• 魚蝨 / 鱼虱
• 魚蝦 / 鱼虾 (yúxiā)
• 魚蟲 / 鱼虫 (yúchóng)
• 魚袋 / 鱼袋
• 魚論 / 鱼论
• 魚販 / 鱼贩 (yúfàn)
• 魚貫 / 鱼贯 (yúguàn)
• 魚躍救球 / 鱼跃救球
• 魚遊釜中 / 鱼游釜中
• 魚鉤 / 鱼钩 (yúgōu)
• 魚雁 / 鱼雁
• 魚雷 / 鱼雷 (yúléi)
• 魚雷艇 / 鱼雷艇
• 魚頭 / 鱼头 (yútóu)
• 魚類 / 鱼类 (yúlèi)
• 魚餌 / 鱼饵 (yú'ěr)
• 魚鬆 / 鱼松 (yúsōng)
• 魚鮓 / 鱼鲊
• 魚鮮 / 鱼鲜 (yúxiān)
• 魚鰭 / 鱼鳍 (yúqí)
• 魚鰾 / 鱼鳔 (yúbiào)
• 魚鱗 / 鱼鳞 (yúlín)
• 魚鳥 / 鱼鸟
• 魚鷹 / 鱼鹰 (yúyīng)
• 魚麗 / 鱼丽
• 魚鼓 / 鱼鼓 (yúgǔ)
• 魚龍 / 鱼龙 (yúlóng)
• 魚龍混雜 / 鱼龙混杂 (yúlónghùnzá)
• 魷魚 / 鱿鱼 (yóuyú)
• 鮑魚 / 鲍鱼 (bàoyú)
• 鮒魚 / 鲋鱼
• 鮭魚 / 鲑鱼 (guīyú)
• 鮪魚 / 鲔鱼 (wěiyú)
• 鯉魚 / 鲤鱼 (lǐyú)
• 鯊魚 / 鲨鱼 (shāyú)
• 鯽魚 / 鲫鱼 (jìyú)
• 鯗魚 / 鲞鱼 (xiǎngyú)
• 鯡魚 / 鲱鱼 (fēiyú)
• 鯨魚 / 鲸鱼 (jīngyú)
• 鯰魚 / 鲶鱼 (niányú)
• 鯢魚 / 鲵鱼
• 鯧魚 / 鲳鱼 (chāngyú)
• 鰒魚 / 鳆鱼 (fùyú)
• 鰉魚 / 鳇鱼 (huángyú)
• 鰈魚 / 鲽鱼
• 鰂魚涌 / 鲗鱼涌
• 鰤魚 / 𫚕鱼
• 鱈魚 / 鳕鱼 (xuěyú)
• 鰻魚 / 鳗鱼
• 鱄魚 / 𫚋鱼
• 鰷魚 / 鲦鱼 (tiáoyú)
• 鰲魚 / 鳌鱼
• 鰱魚 / 鲢鱼 (liányú)
• 鱒魚 / 鳟鱼 (zūnyú)
• 鱖魚 / 鳜鱼 (guìyú)
• 鱔魚 / 鳝鱼 (shànyú)
• 鱸魚 / 鲈鱼 (lúyú)
• 鱷魚 / 鳄鱼 (èyú)
• 鳳尾魚 / 凤尾鱼 (fèngwěiyú)
• 鷂魚 / 鹞鱼
• 鹹魚 / 咸鱼 (xiányú)
• 鹹魚翻生 / 咸鱼翻生
• 鹹魚翻身 / 咸鱼翻身 (xiányú fānshēn)
• 黃魚 / 黄鱼 (huángyú)
• 墨魚 / 墨鱼 (mòyú)
• 黿魚 / 鼋鱼 (yuányú)

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (魚):

• → Japanese: 魚(ぎょ) (gyo)
• → Korean: 어(魚) (eo)
• → Vietnamese: ngư (魚)

References

• “魚”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[3], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• “魚”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.

Japanese

Kanji

魚

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: ご (go)
• Kan-on: ぎょ (gyo, Jōyō)^{←ぎよ (gyo, historical)}
• Kun: うお (uo, 魚, Jōyō)^{←うを (uwo, 魚, historical)}、さかな (sakana, 魚, Jōyō)
• Nanori: い (i)、いお (io)^{←いを (iwo, historical)}、お (o)^{←を (wo, historical)}、な (na)

Compounds

Compounds

• 年魚(あゆ), 香魚(あゆ) (ayu)
• 岩(イワ)魚(ナ), 嘉(イワ)魚(ナ) (iwana)
• 虎魚(オコゼ) (okoze)
• 雑魚(ざこ) (zako)
• 細魚(サヨリ), 針魚(サヨリ) (sayori)
• 秋刀魚(サンマ) (sanma)
• 柳葉魚(シシャモ) (shishamo)
• 衣魚(シミ), 紙魚(シミ), 蠹魚(シミ) (shimi)
• 章魚(タコ) (tako)
• 魚屋(ととや) (totoya)
• 魚子(ななこ) (nanako)
• 沙魚(ハゼ) (haze)
• 魚籠(ビク) (biku)
• 比目魚(ヒラメ) (hirame)
• 真魚(まな) (mana)
• 翻車魚(マンボウ) (manbō)
• 赤目魚(メナダ) (menada)
• 公魚(ワカサギ) (wakasagi)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
魚
さかな Grade: 2
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 魚 – see the following entry.

【さかな】 [noun] [from the 1600s] a fish

(This term, 魚, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 2

魚 (uo): a fish

Kanji in this term
魚
うお Grade: 2
kun'yomi

/uwo/ → /uo/

From Old Japanese.

Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *uwo.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) うお [ùó] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) うお [ùóꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
• (Tokyo) うお [úꜜò] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟o̞]

• Audio:

  (file)

Dialectal data

Modern dialectal data

• (Sapporo, Hokkaidō) //
• (Rebun, Hokkaidō) //
• (Aomori, Aomori Prefecture) //
• (Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture) //
• (Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture) //
• (Morioka, Iwate) //
• (Ashiro, Iwate) //
• (Sendai, Miyagi) //
• (Akita, Akita Prefecture) //
• (Kawabe, Akita Prefecture) //
• (Amarume, Yamagata) //
• (Kōriyama, Fukushima) //
• (Takada (Date), Fukushima) /ɯ̈o/
• (Ibaraki, Ibaraki Prefecture) //
• (Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture) //
• (Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) //
• (Menuma, Saitama Prefecture) //
• (Tako, Chiba Prefecture) //
• (Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture) //
• (Tokyo) /ɯ⸢o ~ ɯ⸢o⸣/
• (Okutama, Tokyo) /⸢joː/
• (Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture) //
• (Niigata, Niigata Prefecture) //
• (Sado, Niigata Prefecture) //
• (Toyama, Toyama Prefecture) /i⸢wo/
• (Gokayama, Toyama Prefecture) //
• (Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture) //
• (Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture) //
• (Fukui, Fukui Prefecture) /ɯo/
• (Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture) /ɯ⸢ʷo/
• (Nagano, Nagano Prefecture) /ɯ⸢o/
• (Akiyama, Niigata and Nagano Prefecture) //
• (Gifu, Gifu Prefecture) //
• (Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture) /i⸢oː/
• (Nagoya, Aichi) //
• (Ano, Mie Prefecture) /⸢uo/
• (Nagahama-Santō, Shiga Prefecture) //
• (Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture) /⸢uo/
• (Osaka, Osaka Prefecture) //
• (Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture) //
• (Kakogawa, Hyōgo Prefecture) //
• (Yamatokōriyama, Nara Prefecture) //
• (Totsugawa, Nara Prefecture) /⸢iʷo/
• (Arida, Wakayama Prefecture) //
• (Tottori, Tottori Prefecture) //
• (Izumo, Shimane Prefecture) //
• (Okayama, Okayama Prefecture) //
• (Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture) /i⸢o/
• (Yuki, Hiroshima Prefecture) //
• (Tokuji, Yamaguchi Prefecture) //
• (Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture) /⸢uo/
• (Kagawa, Kagawa, Kagawa Prefecture) //
• (Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture) //
• (Ōzu, Ehime Prefecture), //
• (Kochi, Kochi Prefecture) //
• (Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture) /i⸢o⸣/
• (Kitagata, Saga Prefecture) /⸣iwo/
• (Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture) /u⸢o⸣/
• (Fukue, Nagasaki Prefecture) //
• (Kagami, Kumamoto Prefecture) /i⸣wo/
• (Notsu, Ōita Prefecture) /i⸢jo/
• (Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture) /iʷo/
• (Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture) /i⸢ʷo⸣/
• (Koshiki, Kagoshima Prefecture) /i⸣jo/

Note: The information are extracted per se, in a broad IPA transcription by the author. There may be inaccuracies in the data. For Hachijō and Ryukyuan data, see their corresponding entries.

/ɯ̈/ is a described as a "central vowel", but the precise transcription is unclear.

Data source (unless missing): Hirayama, Teruo (平山 照男); Ōshima Ichirō (大島 一郎); Ōno Masao (大野 眞男); Kuno Makoto (久野 眞); Kuno Mariko (久野 マリ子); Sugimura Takao (杉村 孝夫) (1992-1994), 現代日本語方言大辞典 [Dictionary of Japanese Dialects], Tokyo: Meiji Shoin (明治書院)

Other dialectal data

Kagoshima (1987) iu, Gifu (Hida) iuo, Toyama (1959), Fukui, Fukui (Ōban), Minami-Ise, Kishū, Wakayama, Tottori, Shimane, Hiroshima, Tokushima, Tosa, Shimabara (1953), Ōita, Ōsumi, Kagoshima (1987) io, Fukushima, Saitama (1989), Izu Ōshima, Hachijō, Shima, Kagoshima (1987) iyo, Sanuki, Setouchi, Tsushima, Kumamoto (1942), Kagoshima (1987) iwo, Sanuki ugo, Ishikawa, Tottori eo, Fukushima oyo, Fukui (Ōban), Shizuoka, Shima, Minami Ise, Yamato, Wakayama, Tottori, Shimane, Sanuki, Iyo yuo, Shizuoka yuō, Akita, Izu Ōshima, Hachijō yo, Yamgata yoi, Saitama, Tokyo, Fukui, Shizuoka, Tottori, Shimane yō, Iwate yoko.

Noun

魚(うお) • (uo) ^{←うを (uwo)?}

1. (uncommon) fish

Usage notes

• Outside of compounds and set phrases, うお (uo) has been displaced by さかな (sakana) in everyday speech.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 魚(うお)市(いち)場(ば) (uo ichiba, “fish market”)
• 魚(うお)河岸(がし) (uogashi, “riverside fish market”)
• 魚(うお)心(ごころ) (uogokoro)
• うお座(ざ) (Uo-za)
• 魚(うお)印(じるし) (uojirushi)
• 魚(うお)釣(つ)り (uotsuri)
• 魚(うお)屋(や) (uoya)
• 青(アオ)魚(ウオ) (ao-uo)
• 活(い)け魚(うお) (ikeuo, “live fish and shellfish kept in a tank in a restaurant”)
• 海(うみ)魚(うお) (umiuo)
• 大(おお)魚(うお) (ōuo)
• 鰹(カツオ) (katsuo)
• 雷(カミナリ)魚(ウオ) (kaminariuo)
• 川(かわ)魚(うお) (kawauo, “river fish; freshwater fish”)
• 氷(こおり)の魚(うお) (kōri no uo)
• 山(サン)椒(ショウ)魚(ウオ) (sanshōuo)
• 白(シラ)魚(ウオ) (shirauo, “icefish”)
• 棘(トゲ)魚(ウオ) (togeuo, “stickleback fish”)
• 飛(と)び魚(うお) (tobiuo, “flying fish”)
• 針(はり)魚(うお) (hariuo), 針(はり)魚(お) (hario)
  • 針魚(ハリヨ) (hariyo)
• 氷(ひ)魚(うお) (hiuo)
• 藻(も)魚(うお) (mōo)

Idioms

Idioms

• 魚(うお)と水(みず) (uo to mizu)
• 魚(うお)の木(き)に登(のぼ)る如(ごと)し (uo no ki ni noboru gotoshi)
• 魚(うお)の水(みず)を得(え)たよう (uo no mizu o etayou)
• 魚(うお)の水(みず)を離(はな)れたよう (uo no mizu o hanaretayou)

Proverbs

Proverbs

• 魚(うお)の釜(ふ)中(ちゅう)に遊(あそ)ぶが若(ごと)し (uo no fuchū ni asobu ga gotoshi)
• 魚(うお)の目(め)に水(みず)見(み)えず (uo no me ni mizu miezu)
• 魚(うお)は鯛(たい) (uo wa tai)
• 魚(うお)を得(え)て筌(うけ)を忘(わす)る (uo o ete uke o wasuru)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
魚
いお Grade: 2
irregular

/uwo/ → /iwo/ → /io/

Alteration of older uo, appearing from roughly the Heian period. Alternatively this might be the usage of an apophonic form *iwo; compare Proto-Ryukyuan *iwo.

Still used today in some dialects.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [io̞]

Noun

魚(いお) • (io) ^{←いを (iwo)?}

1. (archaic or dialectal) a fish

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 魚(いお)亀(がめ) (iogame)
• 魚(いお)鋤(すき) (iosuki)
• 魚(いお)捕(と)り (iotori)
• 魚(いお)の目(め) (io no me), 魚(いお)目(め) (iome)
• 上(あ)げ魚(いお) (ageio)
• 氷(こおり)の魚(いお) (kōri no io)
• 雀(すずめ)魚(いお) (suzumeio)
• 針(はり)魚(いお) (harīo)
• 干(ひ)魚(いお) (hīo)
• 藻(も)魚(いお) (moio)

Etymology 4

Kanji in this term
魚
ぎょ Grade: 2
kan'on

From Middle Chinese 魚 (MC ngjo).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɡʲo̞]

Noun

魚(ぎょ) • (gyo) ^{←ぎよ (gyo)?}

1. a fish
2. short for 魚鱗 (gyorin): fish scales

Affix

魚(ぎょ) • (gyo) ^{←ぎよ (gyo)?}

1. fish
2. fishlike

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 魚(ぎょ)影(えい) (gyoei)
• 魚(ぎょ)塩(えん) (gyoen)
• 魚(ぎょ)価(か) (gyoka)
• 魚(ぎょ)介(かい) (gyokai)
• 魚(ぎょ)目(もく) (gyomoku)
• 魚(ぎょ)綾(りゅう) (gyoryū)
• 魚(ぎょ)綾(りょう), 魚(ぎょ)陵(りょう), 魚(ぎょ)竜(りょう) (gyoryō)
• 魚(ぎょ)鱗(りん) (gyorin)
• 魚(ぎょ)類(るい) (gyorui)
• 海(かい)魚(ぎょ) (kaigyo)
• 活(かつ)魚(ぎょ) (katsugyo)
• 乾(かん)魚(ぎょ) (kangyo)
• 金(キン)魚(ギョ) (kingyo)
• 水(すい)魚(ぎょ) (suigyo)
• 成(せい)魚(ぎょ) (seigyo)
• 鮮(せん)魚(ぎょ) (sengyo)
• 大(たい)魚(ぎょ) (taigyo)
• 稚(ち)魚(ぎょ) (chigyo)
• 人(にん)魚(ぎょ) (ningyo)
• 白(はく)魚(ぎょ) (hakugyo)
• 木(もく)魚(ぎょ) (mokugyo)
• 養(よう)魚(ぎょ) (yōgyo)
• 熱(ねっ)帯(たい)魚(ぎょ) (nettaigyo)

References

• “魚”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎^[4] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2025

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 魚 (MC ngjo).

Historical readings
Dongguk Jeongun reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	ᅌᅥᆼ (Yale: ngè)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[5]	고기〮 (Yale: kwòkí)	어 (Yale: è)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [어]

Hanja

魚 (eumhun 물고기 어 (mulgogi eo))

1. hanja form^? of 어 (“fish”) [affix]

Compounds

Compounds

• 문어 (文魚, muneo)
• 악어 (鰐魚, ageo)
• 어뢰 (魚雷, eoroe)
• 어류 (魚類, eoryu)
• 어족 (魚族, eojok)
• 연어 (鰱魚, yeoneo)
• 인어 (人魚, ineo)
• 장어 (長魚, jang'eo)
• 청어 (靑魚, cheong'eo)
• 오징어 (烏賊魚, ojing'eo)
• 어망 (魚網, eomang)
• 어분 (魚粉, eobun)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [6]

Okinawan

Kanji

魚

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: いう (iu, 魚)、いゆ (iyu, 魚)

Compounds

• 飛魚(とぅぶー) (tubū)

Etymology 1

/ʔiu/ → /ʔiːu/ → /ʔiju/

Shift from iu below.

Pronunciation

• (Shuri-Naha) い​ゆ [íꜜyù] (Kakō - [1])
• IPA^(key): [ʔiju]

Noun

魚(いゆ) (iyu) 

1. a fish

   魚(いゆ)取(とぅ)いが行(い)ちゅん。

   Iyu tuiga ichun.

   I will go catch a fish.

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 魚(いゆ)売(う)やー (iyu uyā)
• 魚(いゆ)肉(しし) (iyushishi)
• 魚(いゆ)天(てぃん)麩(ぷ)羅(ら) (iyu tinpura)
• 魚(いゆ)ぬ目(みー) (iyu nu mī)
• 魚(いゆ)市(まち) (iyumachi, “fishmarket”)
• 鯉(くー)魚(いゆ) (kūiyu)
• 下(さ)がい魚(いゆ) (sagaīyu, “fish that is no longer fresh”)
• 田(たー)魚(いゆ) (tāiyu, “crucian carp”)
• 太刀(たち)ぬ魚(いゆ) (tachi nu iyu)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Ryukyuan *io, from Proto-Japonic *iwo, apophonic form of *uwo. Cognate with Old Japanese 魚 (uwo).

Compare modern dialectal mainland Japanese 魚 (io), first appearing in print and becoming common from the Heian period, but likely extant earlier.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʔiu]

Noun

魚(いう) (iu) 

1. a fish

References

• “いう・いゆ【魚】” in JLect - Japonic Languages and Dialects Database Dictionary, 2019.

Old Japanese

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

魚 (uwo) (kana うを)

1. a fish

Derived terms

• 大魚 (opuwo)
• 氷魚 (pi₁wo)

Descendants

• Japanese: 魚 (uo, io)

Etymology 2

Cognate with 肴 (na, “side dish”), by extension that can refer to any kind of meat.

Noun

魚 (na) (kana な)

1. a fish, especially when used as food
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 5, poem 869, first variant:
     , text here

     多良志比賣可尾能美許等能奈都良須等美多多志世利斯 伊志遠多礼美吉

     tarasi pi₁me₁ kami₂ no₂ mi-ko₂to₂ no₂ na turasu to₂ mi₁-tatasi serisi isi wo tare mi₁ki₁

     Who saw the rock that rose up against us as we tried to catch the fish [or “catching sweetfishes”] belonging to the empress?

Derived terms

• 勇魚, 鯨魚 (isana, “whale”)

Descendants

• Japanese: 魚 (sakana)

Vietnamese

Han character

魚: Hán Việt readings: ngư (語(ngữ)居(cư)切(thiết))
魚: Nôm readings: ngơ, ngư, ngớ, ngừ

1. chữ Hán form of ngư (“(only in compounds) fish”)

Compounds

• 沉魚落雁 (trầm ngư lạc nhạn)
• 美人魚 (mĩ nhân ngư)
• 雙魚 (Song Ngư)
• 魚雷 (ngư lôi)
• 鮑魚 (bào ngư)
• 鯨魚 (kình ngư)

Yonaguni

Kanji

魚

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: いゆ (iyu, 魚)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [iju]

Noun

魚(いゆ) (iyu) 

1. fish

Derived terms

• 魚っぱし (iyup'ashi, “fishing”)

Yoron

Kanji

魚

(Second grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

• Kun: っゆー (yyū, 魚)

Noun

魚(っゆー) (yyū) 

1. fish