Translation guide
The English word 'island' refers to a piece of land surrounded by water. In Japanese, the most common and general word is 島 (しま). However, there are nuances depending on size, context, and whether it's part of a proper name.
Referring to any island, large or small, in everyday conversation.
The standard word for 'island'. Used for both standalone islands and as a suffix in island names.
あの島には誰も住んでいない。
Nobody lives on that island.
日本は島国です。
Japan is an island nation.
Emphasizing that the island is very small, often uninhabited or rocky.
Literally 'small island'. Used for islets or very small islands.
湾内にはいくつかの小島がある。
There are several small islands in the bay.
A formal or technical term for islands, often used in geography or official contexts.
When 'island' is part of a proper noun, like 'Easter Island' or 'Long Island'.
Specifically a deserted or uninhabited island, often in adventure stories.
Literally 'uninhabited island'. Commonly used for a desert island.
彼は無人島に流れ着いた。
He was washed ashore on a desert island.
A literary phrase meaning 'a solitary island in the distant seas', evoking a remote, isolated island.
その物語は絶海の孤島を舞台にしている。
The story is set on a remote island in the middle of the ocean.
A raised area in the middle of a road for pedestrians or to separate traffic.
Literally 'safety zone'. Refers to a traffic island or pedestrian refuge.
横断歩道の真ん中に安全地帯がある。
There is a traffic island in the middle of the crosswalk.
A freestanding counter in a kitchen, used for food preparation or dining.
A loanword from English, commonly used in interior design contexts.
新しい家にはキッチンアイランドを付けたい。
I want to install a kitchen island in the new house.
Refers to the kitchen layout with an island, rather than the island itself.
このマンションはアイランドキッチンが特徴です。
This apartment features an island kitchen.
When 島 is used as a suffix in island names, the reading can be とう or じま. There is no simple rule, but とう is more common for foreign names and larger islands, while じま often appears in native Japanese names. When in doubt, check a dictionary.
Many islands are scattered in this region.
Refers to a median strip or central reservation on a highway, not necessarily for pedestrians.
高速道路の中央分離帯には木が植えられている。
Trees are planted on the median strip of the highway.