1.
archipelago, island chain, chain of islands
A group of islands arranged in a line or arc. Most commonly used to refer to Japan as an island chain.
日本列島は南北に長い。
The Japanese archipelago is long from north to south.
台風が列島を縦断した。
The typhoon passed through the archipelago from end to end.
日本列島は四つの大きな島と多数の小さな島で構成されている。
The Japanese archipelago is made up of four large islands and numerous small ones.
Compound of 列 (row, line) + 島 (island). Most commonly encountered in the phrase 日本列島 (the Japanese archipelago).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 日本列島 (the Japanese archipelago)
- 列島を縦断する (to traverse the archipelago)
- 列島全体 (the entire archipelago)
- 列島各地 (various parts of the archipelago)
USAGE NOTES:
In weather forecasts and news, 列島 alone often refers to Japan: 列島に寒波が到来 (a cold wave hits the archipelago = Japan). This usage is so common that the word is strongly associated with Japan in everyday Japanese.