noun
Japanese rice fish; medaka; killifish
A small freshwater fish native to Japan, often kept in aquariums and used in scientific research. The name is widely recognized even by children.
近所の田んぼでメダカを見つけた。
I found some medaka in a nearby rice paddy.
子供のころ、メダカを飼っていた。
When I was a child, I kept medaka.
Guppy is a tropical fish often kept as a pet, while medaka is a native Japanese species that can survive outdoors in temperate climates.
The name メダカ (medaka) likely derives from 目 (me, 'eye') + 高 (taka, 'high'), referring to the fish's relatively large, upward-looking eyes. The exact historical origin is uncertain.