Koi Color

The basic  list of color - associated words below will help you to begin to understand how Koi names are built up.

Ai:           Blue or Indigo blue.

Aka:        Red (as a base color over the body.)

Beni:       Orange - red (usually as the base color  over the body.

Boke:       Burred or faded effect to pattern.

Cha:         Brown

Gin:          Silver (metallic)

Hi:            Red (marking on the body of the koi)

Karasu:     Black (as a base color , literally 'crow')

Ki:            Yellow

Kin:          Gold  (metallic)

Midori:      Green

Muji:         Single, colored or plain

Nezu / nezumi : Grey Literally 'mouse')

Orenji:      Orange

Shiro:        White

Sore:         Grey

Sum           Black (marking on the body of the KOI)

Yamabuki:  Yellow ( literally, a Japonica bush with pale yellow flowers)

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