“Fish” in Japanese is 魚 (さかな), pronounced sakana.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Used for fish both as animals and as food. Japan eats a lot of fish, and 魚屋 (sakanaya) is a fish shop.
Example sentences
- 魚が好きですか。さかながすきですか。Do you like fish?
- 川に魚がいます。かわにさかながいます。There are fish in the river.
Quick practice
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Related words: Animals
FAQ
How do you say fish in Japanese?
Fish in Japanese is 魚 (さかな), pronounced “sakana”.
How do you write fish in Japanese?
It's written 魚 with kanji, or さかな in hiragana. Both are read sakana.
Is 魚 on the JLPT?
Yes. 魚 (sakana) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.