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Easy Origami Fish
Turn one square into a flat fish with a pointed head, two fins and a folded-back tail. Follow the two free tips separately, then turn the whole model to finish the head.
Preparation + 8 numbered steps
Materials
6-inch square · 6 × 6 inches
One 6 × 6-inch square (15.24 × 15.24 cm), preferably thin origami paper. Ruler and pencil for guide marks; optional pen for an eye. No cuts or glue.
Drag to rotate · swipe sideways on touch.
Arrow keys rotate when focused.
Follow along
PreparationThe interactive guide needs JavaScript. Read every illustrated step below.
Help · controls & diagram
Play or drag the progress slider to watch a fold from 0% to 100%. Use the view buttons or drag the diagram to look from another angle.
Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the moving paper and hinge.
With the diagram focused: Space plays or pauses, ←/→ change steps, and Home resets.
Every step, at a glance
Compare your paper with each diagram after completing the action. Blue and gold track the original left and right halves of one sheet. Darker shades show the reverse. Orange highlights the moving paper and hinge.
- 0. Prepare the square
- 1. Make a downward triangle
- 2. Lift the front tip for a fin
- 3. Raise the remaining tip
- 4. Return the lower fin
- 5. Fold the tail across
- 6. Fold the tail tip back
- 7. Turn the fish over
- 8. Shape the head and finish
PREPARATION · Traditional flat fish
Prepare the square
Place the square as a diamond, intended fish color face down.
Layers: One uncut sheet.
Check: Top and bottom corners line up.
Explore this step ↑STEP 1 · Traditional flat fish
Make a downward triangle
Bring the top corner to the bottom corner and press the horizontal crease.
Layers: Move the entire upper half.
Check: Two free tips point down below the long closed edge.
Explore this step ↑STEP 2 · Traditional flat fish
Lift the front tip for a fin
Mark each sloping edge 2.4 inches (6.10 cm) from its upper corner. Join the marks with a horizontal fold, lifting only the front tip.
Layers: The front layer moves; the rear triangle stays flat.
Check: The lifted tip projects above the long top edge.
Explore this step ↑STEP 3 · Traditional flat fish
Raise the remaining tip
Fold the rear bottom tip upward so its left sloping edge lies along the horizontal base of the raised fin. Start the hinge at the left end of that base.
Layers: Only the remaining rear tip moves; keep the first fin still.
Check: The lifted left edge is horizontal and the free tip points right.
Explore this step ↑STEP 4 · Traditional flat fish
Return the lower fin
From the left end of the fin base, mark a point 3 inches (7.62 cm) to the right and 0.80 inch (2.04 cm) below it. Fold the raised flap down on the line joining these points.
Layers: Move only the flap just lifted, leaving a narrow folded strip underneath.
Check: A lower fin projects below the body; the upper fin remains above it.
Explore this step ↑STEP 5 · Traditional flat fish
Fold the tail across
On the long top edge, mark 1.91 inches (4.85 cm) from the left corner. Make a second guide point 0.57 inch (1.44 cm) right of this mark and 1.70 inches (4.31 cm) below it. Fold the whole left corner inward along the joining line.
Layers: Carry all paper layers beyond this hinge, including the left ends of the fin folds.
Check: The old left corner now points upward; both fins remain attached.
Explore this step ↑STEP 6 · Traditional flat fish
Fold the tail tip back
From the last top-edge mark, draw a guide 0.85 inch (2.16 cm) to the right and 0.51 inch (1.30 cm) down. Fold the raised tail tip back across this sloping line.
Layers: Move only the tail packet from the preceding fold.
Check: A short triangular tail projects left, joined by a narrow pleat.
Explore this step ↑STEP 7 · Traditional flat fish
Turn the fish over
Lift and turn the complete model left to right. Keep every crease closed.
Layers: The entire sheet turns together.
Check: The tail is on the right; the broad head corner is on the left.
Explore this step ↑STEP 8 · Traditional flat fish
Shape the head and finish
On the long top edge, measure 3.39 inches (8.62 cm) from the left point. Fold the left corner down along a 45-degree line from this mark toward the lower left edge. Press flat. You may draw an eye near the head.
Layers: Move all layers beyond this head hinge; keep the body and tail flat.
Check: The folded corner reaches 3.39 inches below the top-edge mark. Your flat fish has a pointed left head, upper and lower fins and a small tail on the right.
Explore this step ↑
Sources & notes
Traditional design; tutorial by Peter Saydak, diagrams by Kelly Tan, How to Fold a Very Easy Origami Fish (undated tutorial).
Complete traditional fish reference ↗
Origami.me credits the design as Traditional. Its authored text, diagrams and photographs have separate rights and are not reproduced here. This guide uses original English instructions, geometry, diagrams and PDF; source attribution does not grant a project-wide license.
Adaptation: Uses an exact 6-inch square. The source leaves the dorsal, lower-fin and tail angles adjustable. Our authored ruler landmarks fix those proportions: dorsal hinge 40% down the triangle, lower-fin return at 15 degrees, tail hinges described in the steps, and head hinge through the 40% top-edge mark. These are teaching choices, not measurements recovered from the reference. No pocket or reverse fold is substituted.
Original instructions and diagrams, made with AI assistance. About & reuse
Accuracy notes
Real-paper follow-along and paper weight have not been tested. Diagrams illustrate the sequence, not paper thickness, contact, collisions or exact layer visibility. One 36-square-inch sheet with rigid folds, separate original-layer fin masks and complete tail packets. Zero-thickness teaching geometry; thickness and contact are not simulated. Real-paper folding has not been tested.