noun
fish going downstream to spawn
Specifically refers to fish that descend rivers to spawn, such as salmon. A seasonal term often associated with autumn.
秋になると、落ち魚が川を下る姿が見られる。
In autumn, you can see fish going downstream to spawn.
noun
Refers to fish that have died, often found floating or washed ashore. Not a common everyday word; more likely encountered in literary or descriptive contexts.
海岸に落ち魚が打ち上げられていた。
Dead fish had washed up on the shore.
noun
fish moving to deeper waters to avoid cold
Describes fish that migrate to deeper, warmer waters as temperatures drop. A specialized ecological term; rarely used in daily conversation.
冬が近づくと、落ち魚は深みへ移動する。
As winter approaches, the fish move into deeper waters to avoid the cold.
遡上魚 refers to fish that swim upstream to spawn, the opposite movement of 落ち魚 in sense 1.
Compound of 落ち (ochi, 'falling', the continuative form of 落ちる) and 魚 (uo, 'fish'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word literally describes fish that 'fall' or descend, referring to their downstream movement.