Japanese word of the day: 島 (Shima)

What does 島 (Shima) mean?

島 (しま, shima) is a noun meaning “island” in Japanese. It refers to a piece of land completely surrounded by water. Japan itself is made up of thousands of 島, from the four main islands to countless smaller ones, making this word especially relevant for anyone interested in Japanese geography or travel.

Kanji details for 島

Character: 島 — island
Radical: mountain 山

Example sentences with 島 (Shima)

• 日本にはたくさんの島があります。
  (Nihon ni wa takusan no shima ga arimasu.)
  🏝️ There are many islands in Japan.

• この島はとても小さいです。
  (Kono shima wa totemo chiisai desu.)
  🌴 This island is very small.

• 夏休みに島へ旅行しました。
  (Natsuyasumi ni shima e ryokō shimashita.)
  🚤 I traveled to an island during summer vacation.

島 (Shima) in context

You’ll hear 島 in place names all over Japan, like 沖縄島 (Okinawa-shima) or 佐渡島 (Sado-shima). It’s also common in everyday conversation when talking about travel, nature, or geography. If you love exploring new places or are interested in Japanese culture, 島 is a handy word to know.

A quick tip:The reading じま (jima) is sometimes used in place names, like 江ノ島 (Enoshima).

Whether you’re planning a beach getaway or just brushing up on your geography, 島 is the essential word for any land surrounded by water in Japanese.