Meanings
- A carp-shaped streamer used to celebrate Children's Day in Japan.
This was perfect— it rationalized the koinobori as quite befitting a peace-loving Japan.
1975, Nihon Bunka Kenkyūjo, A Hundred things Japanese, Japan Culture Institute, page 172 more examples
At this time, families with boys hang koinobori from flagpoles in their yard. Koinobori is a fish-shaped banner. Each male in the family is represented by a koinobori on the flagpole.
2008, Sharon Jeffus, Jamie Aramini, Geography Through Art: International Art Projects for Kids, Geography Matters, →ISBN, page 68Along with the raising of koinobori, children indulge in kashiwa-mochi sticky rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves.
2016, Lawrence Winkler, Samurai Road, Bellatrix, →ISBN
Origin
- Japanese鯉幟
- Englishkoinobori
Borrowed from Japanese 鯉幟 (koinobori).
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 鯉魚旗 /鲤鱼旗
- 鯉魚旗 /鲤鱼旗 (lǐyúqí)carp-shaped streamer
French koinobori
- koinoboricarp-shaped streamer
Japanese 鯉幟
- 鯉幟 (koinobori)carp-shaped streamer
Cite this entry
koinobori. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/koinobori
“koinobori.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/koinobori. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “koinobori,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/koinobori.
Source: koinobori on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.