The Complete Guide to Koi Fish Tattoo Meaning (2023)

What does a koi fish tattoo mean?

Koi fish is a fish that is a popular addition to fountains today (as many people know them).

However, there is more to koi than just decoration.

The koi fish tattoo is a good luck charm and a symbol of perseverance in the face of life's challenges.

Here are the main associations with the koi fish tattoo meaning:

• Masculinity
• Prosperity
• Serverancia
• Fortaleza

Masculinity is a symbol of the koi fish, especially when the tattoo is done in blue.

It's a great tattoo for men who want to show off their strength and who are proud of their fatherhood.

Koi fish tattoo also means prosperity in career, life in general or with money.

No wonder we throw coins into the water where the koi fish are, they are good luck charms.

Koi fish are known for their perseverance in the water by swimming upstream, just as some people metaphorically do with the challenges they face.

The koi fish tattoo symbolizes never giving up a fight.

Another common koi fish tattoo meaning is strength.

The koi fish overcomes challenges and is therefore a symbol of power.

The meaning of koi fish tattoo in cultures

• Chinese koi fish tattoo meaning

Koi fish originated in China, so Chinese culture is rich in history.

The koi fish legend will be explained later; however, it is important to note that both Japan and China see the significance of this story as determination to finish a goal or persevere through a difficult time.

Chinese koi fish tattoos are animated and cartoonish with Chinese symbols attached to the image.

They symbolize strength and good luck, especially with wealth.

The Chinese also represent the koi fish as theyin y yangsymbol, which means balance.

• Japanese koi fish tattoo meaning

Koi fish are popular symbols of Japanese culture and part of Japan's national identity.

Its meanings for the Japanese range from luck and prosperity to perseverance in the struggle for life.

A traditional Japanese tattoo, also calledtebori, usually done in blue or red surrounded by water or flowers.

Traditional Japanese style koi fish tattoos sometimes refer to the ancient legend that koi fish turn into dragons.

A synopsis of this story is that many koi fish in the Yellow River in China swam against the current and gained a powerful ability to swim towards a waterfall.

However, many were too scared and decided to retreat.

Only a few koi fish remained and they kept trying to swim the waterfall for decades.

The only koi that managed, after a hundred years, to reach the top of the waterfall was transformed into a dragon by the gods.

This lesson is that perseverance will be rewarded.

Koi fish tattoo color meanings

Each rainbow color has a unique meaning – just like each koi fish tattoo color.

Koi fish make great tattoo motifs because they come in so many pretty colors.

But you need to be careful when selecting colors for your next tattoo.

Each tattoo color has its own meaning, so you have to be very selective.

From perseverance to masculinity, these koi fish tattoos have definite meanings behind their color.

• blue koi fish tattoo meaning

Blue carp exist in real life and are quite impressive.

When you choose a blue koi tattoo design, you choose something unique that is likely to draw attention.

Blue is often associated with water, where koi live, emphasizing its significance.

Between the koi and the water, there can be a lot of blue, so this tattoo is often accented with red in the form of flowers or a second koi fish.

The blue koi fish tattoo symbolizes peace and tranquility, as well as harmony with nature.

It can also be a symbol of masculinity and is a common tattoo for men.

There are a few reasons why you might want to get a blue koi tattoo other than just how beautiful it is.

• black koi fish tattoo meaning

In a Koi tattoo, black symbolizes strength.

Typically, a black koi tattoo, or a koi with black spots, symbolizes strength through adversity.

If you had to overcome big hurdles and want to remember your journey then make sure to use black in your koi fish tattoo design.

Black can also represent the father figure of a family in Japan.

Black koi fish tattoos symbolize masculinity and even fatherhood; however, they can be done on women or men.

This is because the second meaning of the black koi fish tattoo is achievement through a struggle in life such as financial battles or struggling with mental illness.

This tattoo represents a person's strength to overcome obstacles.

• Purple koi fish tattoo meaning

Wearing a purple koi fish on your arm or any other part of your body provides a symbol of inspiration that will lift you up when you are down.

In other words, this tattoo symbolizes perseverance.

Perseverance is defined as continuing to reach a goal, even under enormous pressure to stop or turn around.

Therefore, the purple koi fish tattoo means that you are a fighter and will not give up even when the going gets tough.

• White koi fish tattoo meaning

The white koi fish tattoo represents success at work or an achievement in your career.

White can be tricky in the tattoo world because some people say it won't stand the test of time.

Placing other colors around your white koi can help the color appear more vibrant longer.

In the same realm, the white koi tattoo can symbolize new possibilities ahead.

If you have a tricolor koi tattoo, you can turn a few ideas into one!

For example, a white, red and black koi would represent that you had some obstacles, you overcame them with confidence and passion and were rewarded with material success.

One should get a white koi fish tattoo if they want to commemorate something that happens to them, a congratulations tattoo of a beautiful koi fish is worth getting.

• yellow koi fish tattoo meaning

Yellow is an energetic color that usually means joy.

However, a yellow koi fish tattoo has many meanings.

When a koi fish tattoo is more golden, it can signify success and prosperity in life.

On the other hand, a bright yellow koi fish tattoo can symbolize productive communication, calm and optimism.

• Red koi fish tattoo meaning

Red is a popular choice for koi tattoos because it is the color found in the kings of the koi scene.

The symbolism of red koi tattoos is quite versatile.

The red koi fish tattoo is often accented with black lines or a blue wave in its background.

Red usually symbolizes strength or love, but in the case of the koi fish tattoo, it can also symbolize motherhood and bravery.

The ability of koi fish to swim upstream and reach a waterfall shows bravery in the extreme.

The red koi fish tattoo represents this bravery.

These varied meanings develop into a strongly aesthetic tattoo, full of flavor and texture.

A red koi tattoo is a good choice for anyone who is passionate, who attacks goals with enthusiasm and confidence.

• orange koi fish tattoo meaning

Like the yellow koi fish tattoo, the orange koi fish can symbolize happiness and optimism.

It can also symbolize strength, like a light at the end of the tunnel, good luck and prosperity.

If you want to invite a positive flow of money into your life, embrace the orange koi.

Many people also choose this color for their tattoos because it can stand out against darker backgrounds.

• Green koi fish tattoo meaning

Midori, or green in Japanese, is a type of koi fish with scales along the spine instead of the entire body.

This cool looking fish makes an amazing tattoo, however for some reason it is a very unusual tattoo.

Its meaning, like the color green, is prosperity and good luck on the road.

• pink koi fish tattoos

Pink koi tattoos can look beautiful, especially when paired with orange.

Pink is often seen as a feminine color, and this one is no exception.

A pink koi tattoo can represent the daughter of a family, but it is also a celebration of feminine energy.

Are you in touch with your feminine side?

A pink koi fish tattoo can help you come to terms with that.

Address

Fish only go in two directions: up or down.

Each way the koi fish moves has a different meaning.

• koi fish tattoo meaning swimming against the current

When a koi fish swims against the current in a tattoo, it can refer to the history of the koi and therefore means perseverance.

A koi tattoo swimming upstream means you are facing challenges head on, ready to fight.

• Koi fish tattoo means swimming in the river

A koi fish tattoo with the koi fish swimming in the river symbolizes independence and freedom.

He is alone and determined in his abilities to find a new place to live or a new food to eat.

A koi swimming in the river tattoo means that you have already faced the obstacles and are celebrating your success.

The Meanings of Different Koi Fish Tattoo Designs

There are many different koi fish tattoo designs.

The koi fish tattoo is often combined with an Asian symbol or with multiple koi fish swimming together.

Here are some examples of koi fish tattoo designs and their meanings:

• Two koi fish tattoo meaning

When there are two koi fish in a tattoo, the design usually has one fish swimming upstream and the other swimming upstream.

This can include thetatuagem yin e yangwith a koi fish tattoo, but it also has the meaning of accepting life's challenges.

One fish goes up while the other goes down, literally symbolizing the ups and downs of life.

• Three Koi fish tattoo meaning

Three koi fish in a tattoo is rare, but it shouldn't be, because it has an important meaning.

This tattoo means balance in nature and life.

• Dragon and koi fish tattoo meaning

Hedragon tattoosymbolizes strength and power, and the koi fish also symbolizes these things.

The effect of the two together is extreme dominance.

• tribal koi fish tattoo meaning

tribal tattoosit often means courage or strength.

So again, we see that this tattoo symbolizes great strength, just like the koi fish has the strength to swim against the current.

• Lotus flower and koi fish tattoo meaning

The lotus flower is a hardy flower that can withstand many different climates and temperature conditions.

Alotus tattoo, placed together with the koi fish tattoo, its meaning is resilience and the ability to persevere in difficult situations.

Koi fish tattoos combined with lotus tattoos symbolize triumph.

• Koi Yin and Yang fish tattoo meaning

Last but not least, the yin and yang koi fish tattoo signifies balance between the elements and balance in life.

It also represents strength, because there is strength in being able to balance the good and the bad in life.

This tattoo design means that you live in harmony with life or demand.

Koi yin and yang fish tattoos represent the harmony of the universe and balance in life.

A yin yang koi fish tattoo can be done in black and white or complementary opposite colors like red and blue.

• Pez koi tebori

the art ofteboriTattoos date back to Japan's Edo era (1603-1868) and are still practiced today.

Tebori means "carved by hand" and the term derives from the Japanese technique of wood carving.

This tattooing method takes much longer than using a tattoo machine, but the colors are brighter and the healing process is faster.

If you are interested in an authentic Japanese tattoo design, look no further than the tebori koi fish.

tattoo placement

When considering your koi tattoo, you should consult an expert.

Depending on how much detail you want around your koi tattoo, you may need to find a large part of your body to accommodate the design.

Decide which way you would like your tattoo to swim based on the symbolism below.

You will need space to portray this properly.

Lastly, think about why you are getting tattooed.

If it's a symbol of strength, try the biceps.

If it is to commemorate an experience that is left behind, the back can be a good option.

A tattoo for someone you love can be a great chest piece.

Conclusion

The koi fish tattoo has many meanings, but the one that stands out the most is perseverance.

The history of the koi has such a powerful meaning that it makes sense why so many people get this tattoo.

However, using a koi fish tattoo as a good luck charm for wealth and good events in life can also be very important.

Masculinity and strength are also powerful messages to attach to a tattoo.

Remember: each color and symbol added to the koi fish has a different meaning, so think about what you want it to represent.

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