島

• Reading: しま
• Romaji: shima
• Kanji breakdown: 島 (tou/shima) — island
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.ma/

Meaning

Island. A piece of land surrounded by water on all sides.

A noun referring to islands. Japan itself is an archipelago of over 6,800 islands, making this word fundamental to understanding Japanese geography. Famous islands include 沖縄 (Okinawa) and 北海道 (Hokkaido). In names, it may be read as じま or とう.

Examples

1. 日本にはたくさんの島があります。 Japan has many islands.
2. 小さい島に船で行きました。 I went to a small island by boat.
3. あの島にはきれいなビーチがあります。 That island has a beautiful beach.

Usage Guide

Context: geography, travel, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 島 combines the mountain radical 山 with 鳥 (bird), possibly suggesting a mountain rising from the sea where birds rest.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal