島嶼 / 岛屿
dǎoyǔ
In Chinese, the word for island can be expressed through several forms depending on the dialect and context. If unsure, use 島嶼 / 岛屿 (dǎoyǔ).
Meaning: area of land completely surrounded by water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 島嶼 / 岛屿 | dǎoyǔ | |
| 島嶼 / 岛屿 | tó-sū, tó͘-sū | Hokkien |
| 島 / 岛 | tó, tó͘ | Hokkien |
| 海島 / 海岛 | hái-tó͘ / hái-tó | Hokkien |
The term refers to an area of land completely surrounded by water.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 海島 / 海岛 literally translates to 'sea island', emphasizing an island located in the ocean.
Which one should you use?
The form 島 / 岛 is the standard, single-character way to say island in everyday speech. In contrast, 島嶼 / 岛屿 is a more formal or literary way to refer to islands, often used in a collective sense or in geographical contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms до and хэдо are used in Dungan, while the forms 島嶼 / 岛屿, 島 / 岛 and 海島 / 海岛 are used in Hokkien.
How do you pronounce it?
tó-sū, tó͘-sū
Did you know?
- The Dungan language uses the forms до and хэдо to say 'island', reflecting a unique blend of Chinese roots and Cyrillic script.
- In Chinese culture, the concept of an 'island' often evokes the mythical 蓬萊 'Penglai', a legendary island of immortals where one can find the elixir of life.
- The character 島 / 岛 is a phono-semantic compound that combines the meaning of 'mountain' with the sound component for 'bird'.
Examples in context
- 我们计划在旅行中参观一个岛屿。We are planning to visit an island during our trip.
- 台湾是位于东亚的岛屿。Taiwan is an island located in East Asia.
- 我想探索泰国的美丽岛屿。I want to explore the beautiful islands in Thailand.
- 那个小岛是一座热门的旅游目的地。That small island is a popular tourist destination.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “island” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 島, CC BY-SA 4.0.
