Chinese "Tail" constellation
One of the 28 traditional Chinese mansions, part of the Azure Dragon (蒼竜) group. Used in astronomy and historical contexts.
See also: 二十八宿 · 蒼竜 (そうりょう)
尾 is one of the 28 mansions, corresponding to the tail of the Azure Dragon.
counter for fish, shrimp, etc.
Used to count fish, shrimp, and similar aquatic creatures. Often read as び in compounds, but standalone counting may use いっぴき, にひき, etc. with the kanji 匹.
I bought three sea bream at the market.
How many sweetfish did you catch in this river?
匹 is the general counter for small animals, including fish, while 尾 is a more specific counter for fish and shrimp, often used in formal or commercial contexts.
inflectional ending; word ending · end of a sentence; sentence ending
copulation; mating
end; close; final part
following; tracking; tailing
rear; tail end; back
shadowing; tailing; following
beginning and end; from start to finish · result; outcome; course of events · successful handling; manage successfully; bring off successfully
stern; aft
tail; empennage; tail assembly
The kanji 尾 means 'tail'. The constellation name derives from its position as the tail of the Azure Dragon in Chinese astronomy. The counter use likely comes from counting fish by their tails.
thoroughly; from beginning to end; completely
suffix
tailcoat
coccyx; tailbone
cow tail; oxtail · rump of a cow
indecent; vulgar; dirty
pit of the stomach; solar plexus
coccyx; tailbone
one fish; one shrimp
end; conclusion; finale
tail fan
caudal vertebra; tail vertebra
tail skid (aircraft)
tail light; rear light
tail-shaped; caudal
tip of tail; tail end
tail covert (of a bird) · tail pipe (of a turbine) · receiver (of a rifle)
telson; pygidium; pleon · hypopygium