島（しま、shima）
- island

The Japanese word 島 （しま or shima） means "island." It refers to a landmass that is surrounded by water. It can range in size from a small islet to a large island.

⚫︎あの島は美しい。 Translation: That island is beautiful. ⚫︎日本は島国です。 Translation: Japan is an island country. ⚫︎その島にはたくさんの鳥がいます。 Translation: There are many birds on that island.

• You use 島 when you are talking about islands in general, or when referring to a specific island. • It's a common word, and you can use it in various contexts, such as describing geography, discussing travel, or talking about the natural environment.

• The word 島 is primarily written with the kanji 島. • The reading is しま in hiragana. • There are no variations in the okurigana.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 島 as it is a specific term. However, you might use: • 島々 （しまじま or shimajima）: This means "islands" or "various islands."

• The direct opposite of an 島 is usually a continent or the mainland. There isn't a single word that perfectly captures this concept in the same way, but it is implied. • 大陸 (たいりく or tairiku) means "continent."

夏休みに島へ旅行に行きたいです。 ・Translation: I want to go on a trip to an island during the summer vacation. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 島 to express a desire to travel to an island.

その島の自然はとても豊かです。 ・Translation: The nature on that island is very rich. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the abundance of nature on the island, using 島 to specify the location.

The kanji 島 (しま) is a combination of the radical 山 meaning "mountain" and a phonetic component. This reflects the early understanding of an island as a "mountain in the sea".