Hiragana "Gyo" Coloring Pages

The "Gyo" in "Kingyo"

The character on this coloring page is the Hiragana "Gyo".
The word is "Kingyo" (goldfish). This word does not start with Hiragana "Gyo". Instead, it is a word with Hiragana "Gyo" at the end.
In the picture on the left, two goldfish are swimming.
They have big, fluttery tail fins, back fins on their backs, round eyes, and little bubbles floating all around them.
The two of them are swimming happily together. They look like they are having fun!

Two Characters for One Sound

You write Hiragana "Gyo" by combining two characters: "Gi" and a small "Yo".
Even though you write two characters, you do not split them up into "Gi" and "Yo" when you read them. You say them together as one sound.
Sounds like this are called Youon.
If you write a big "Yo" to make "Gi-yo," it becomes two sounds, and it might change into a completely different word.
Whether a character is small or big changes the sound!

How Hiragana "Gyo" Was Made

The character "Gi" is the character "Ki" with two dots (dakuten) added.
Hiragana characters were born long ago when people started writing Kanji in a simplified, flowing way.
"Ki" came from simplifying the Kanji character "幾".
The small "Yo" is just a normal "Yo" written small. "Yo" came from simplifying the Kanji character "与".
Kanji from a very long time ago changed over many years to become the friendly shapes we use today!

Tips for Writing

You write "Ki" with 4 strokes.
First, write two lines across, slanting slightly upward. For the 3rd stroke, draw a slanting line that crosses through them from above.
The 4th stroke is the rounded part at the bottom.
After you finish writing the main character, draw two short dots on the top right.
When writing side-to-side, write the small "Yo" in the bottom left of the box. When writing top-to-bottom, write it small in the top right.
Be careful not to put the dots and the small "Yo" in the wrong spots!

Words with Hiragana "Gyo"

Words that start with Hiragana "Gyo" include "Gyouza" (dumplings), "Gyouretsu" (a line of people), and "Gyosen" (fishing boat).
There are also words with Hiragana "Gyo" at the end, like "Kingyo" (goldfish) and "Ningyo" (mermaid).
The Kanji character for "fish" (魚) can also be read as "Gyo"!
Try making up a story with lots of Hiragana "Gyo" in it, like "Let's stand in a gyouretsu at the shop and eat gyouza!"

Color the Big "Hiragana "Gyo"" in Water Colors

Try coloring inside the big Hiragana "Gyo" at the top right with your favorite colors.
It is also fun to use different colors, like making "gi" red and "yo" light blue to match the goldfish.
It would also look cute if you make the dots blue, just like goldfish bubbles.

Color the Goldfish Red and Orange

Color the body of the goldfish in red or orange.
If you make the back a slightly darker red and the belly light orange or white, the body will look plump and round.
Try coloring the frilly tail fin lighter than the body so it looks see-through.
If you add lines of a slightly darker color along the fin stripes, the fins will look beautiful.
It is fun to make one goldfish red and the other red and white spotted so they look different.

Bubbles and Water

If you leave the surrounding bubbles white and trace just the edges in light blue, they will look like shiny bubbles.
If you color the open spaces in light blue, it will look like they are swimming in water.

Trace the Letters with a Pencil

In the boxes at the bottom right, there are 4 sets of light gray Hiragana "Gyo".
Hold your pencil correctly and trace over the gray lines slowly so you do not go outside the lines.
Using the vertical and horizontal center lines inside the boxes as a guide makes it easy to see the size and place for the letters.
Be careful with where they go: put the dots in the top right, and the small "yo" in the bottom left of the box.
Each time you trace 1 set, try reading "Hiragana "Gyo"" out loud.
When you trace all 4 sets, try writing it by yourself outside the boxes, too.

Where Goldfish Come From

Goldfish started long ago in China. People found red fish among regular crucian carp and took special care of them.
They say goldfish came to Japan from China during the Muromachi period.
At first, they were very rare, so only important people got to enjoy them.

Many Shapes of Goldfish

There are many kinds of goldfish.
Some have slim bodies like the Wakin, some have round bodies like the Ryukin, and some have bumpy heads like the Ranchu.
People spent a long time choosing and raising goldfish with wonderful shapes.

Goldfish Scooping at Summer Festivals

Goldfish scooping is a fun game at summer festivals! You catch goldfish using a paper tool called a "poi."
If you put the poi under the water first and scoop gently, the paper will not tear as easily.

A Home for Goldfish

When you keep goldfish, remember to keep their tank water clean and do not give them too much food.
If you care for them well, some goldfish can live for about 10 years!
Give your goldfish a name as a member of your family, and love them for a long time.