岛屿

• Pinyin: dǎo yǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 岛 = 鸟 + 山 (bird + mountain — island); 屿 = 山 + 与 (small island)

Meaning

Islands; a general or collective term for islands. Refers to land masses surrounded by water, whether a single island or an archipelago.

The formal and written term for islands, used in geography, geopolitics, and official contexts. More formal than 岛 alone and frequently appears in discussions of territorial sovereignty, maritime boundaries, and environmental policy.

Examples

1. 南海岛屿的主权归属问题至今仍是国际社会高度关注的焦点。 The question of sovereignty over the South China Sea islands remains a focus of intense attention from the international community.
2. 这片群岛由数百个大小不一的岛屿组成，生态资源十分丰富。 This archipelago consists of hundreds of islands of varying sizes and has extremely rich ecological resources.
3. 政府加大了对偏远岛屿基础设施建设和生态保护的投入力度。 The government has increased investment in infrastructure development and ecological protection for remote islands.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, geopolitics, environment, official documents

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该地区星罗棋布的岛屿为海洋生物提供了珍贵的栖息地。(The islands scattered across this region provide precious habitats for marine life.)
• 保护岛屿生态系统的完整性是可持续发展战略的重要组成部分。(Protecting the integrity of island ecosystems is an important component of a sustainable development strategy.)

Don't Say

• 我去了一个岛屿 — for everyday speech, just say 我去了一个岛; 岛屿 in singular casual use sounds unnatural

Origin & History

岛 (island) + 屿 (small island) — both characters mean island, forming a compound noun

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal