noun
colored carp; ornamental koi
Refers specifically to brightly colored, ornamental varieties of carp (koi), often kept in ponds for decorative purposes.
庭の池に錦鯉が泳いでいる。
Colored carp are swimming in the garden pond.
Standard kanji spelling for the ornamental koi variety.
鯉 is the general term for carp, while 錦鯉 specifically denotes the ornamental, multi-colored variety.
Compound of 錦 (nishiki, 'brocade') and 鯉 (koi, 'carp'), referring to the fish's colorful, brocade-like patterns.