also: しょうとう · おじま
noun
small island; islet
Refers to a small island, typically smaller than a 島 (island) but larger than a mere rock or reef. Common in geographical descriptions and place names.
湖の真ん中に小さな小島が浮かんでいる。
A small islet floats in the middle of the lake.
その小島には珍しい鳥が生息している。
Rare birds inhabit that small island.
Alternate native reading; rare and possibly dialectal or restricted to place names.
Compound of 小 (small) and 島 (island). The reading こじま is the most common native Japanese reading; しょうとう is the Sino-Japanese reading; おじま is a less common native variant.