半島（はんとう、hantou）
- peninsula

The Japanese word 半島 （半島, hantou） means "peninsula" in English. It refers to a piece of land almost entirely surrounded by water, projecting out into a body of water, and connected to a larger landmass.

⚫︎日本は四つの大きな島と多くの小さな半島から成っています。 Translation: Japan consists of four main islands and many small peninsulas. ⚫︎その半島は美しい海岸線で知られています。 Translation: That peninsula is known for its beautiful coastline. ⚫︎夏には、半島のビーチは観光客で賑わいます。 Translation: In summer, the beaches of the peninsula are crowded with tourists.

This word is used to describe geographical features, and you would use it when discussing or referring to peninsulas. It's a common word used in geography, travel, and news reports. You can use it in both formal and informal conversations.

⚫︎ The word is written using the kanji 半島. ⚫︎ The reading is はんとう in hiragana. ⚫︎ There is no katakana version for this word. ⚫︎ The okurigana (hiragana suffixes) are not applicable.

There are no direct synonyms for "peninsula" in Japanese. However, when describing a narrow, extended landform, related terms like 岬 (misaki, cape) or promontory can be used, depending on the context.

⚫︎ The antonym of a peninsula isn't a single word, as it depends on the context. However, it can be said that islands, or land that isn't connected to a larger landmass, is the opposite. ⚫︎ 大陸 (tairiku - continent) and 島 (shima - island) can be considered antonyms in some contexts.

韓国の半島は、歴史的に重要な場所です。 ・Translation: The Korean peninsula is a historically significant place. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 半島 to refer to the Korean peninsula, highlighting its geographical and historical importance.

その半島の先端には、灯台があります。 ・Translation: There is a lighthouse at the tip of that peninsula. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the location of a lighthouse on a peninsula, using the word to specify the geographical feature.

The word 半島 is a compound word. 半 (han) means "half" or "semi," and 島 (tou) means "island." Therefore, 半島 literally translates to "semi-island," accurately describing a piece of land that is almost an island. The kanji were adopted from Chinese.