Translation guide
The English word 'fish' can refer to the animal, its meat as food, or the activity of fishing. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Referring to fish as living animals, in water or in general.
The most common word for fish as an animal. Used in everyday conversation.
池に魚がたくさんいます。
There are many fish in the pond.
魚はえらで呼吸します。
Fish breathe through gills.
Scientific or formal term for fish as a biological group.
魚類は脊椎動物の一種です。
Fish are a type of vertebrate.
Referring to fish meat used in cooking or eating.
Same word as the animal, but context makes it clear you mean food. Often used with cooking verbs.
今日の夕食は魚です。
Today's dinner is fish.
魚を焼いて食べました。
I grilled and ate fish.
Specifically raw fish sliced for eating, a common Japanese dish.
Grilled fish, a common home-cooked dish.
Referring to the act of catching fish as a hobby or job.
The general word for fishing as an activity. Used with verb する (to fish).
週末に釣りに行きます。
I go fishing on weekends.
父は釣りが趣味です。
My father's hobby is fishing.
Fishing as an industry or large-scale catching, often used in compounds like 漁業 (fishing industry).
この町は漁で生計を立てています。
This town makes a living from fishing.
Literally 'fish fishing', sometimes used to specify fishing for fish (as opposed to other sea creatures), but 釣り alone is more common.
The action of trying to catch fish.
The most common way to say 'to fish'. Literally 'do fishing'.
昨日、川で釣りをしました。
I fished in the river yesterday.
Transitive verb meaning 'to catch (a fish)'. Focuses on the result of catching.
大きな魚を釣りました。
I caught a big fish.
魚 refers to the animal or food, while 釣り refers to the activity. Saying 'I like fish' as 釣りが好きです means 'I like fishing', not 'I like eating fish'.
Use 匹 (ひき) for small to medium live fish, and 尾 (び) for larger or formal contexts. For food, use 切れ (きれ) for slices or pieces.
新鮮な刺身が大好きです。
I love fresh sashimi.
朝ごはんに焼き魚を食べます。
I eat grilled fish for breakfast.
子供の頃、よく魚釣りをしました。
I often went fishing as a child.