諸島(しょとう)

しょとう
noun
archipelago; island chain; islands
1. archipelago; island chain; group of islands
A cluster or chain of islands, used as a geographical term typically following a proper name.
小笠原(おがさわら)諸島(しょとう)は世界遺産(せかいいさん)だ。
The Ogasawara Islands are a World Heritage Site.
カリブ海(かい)の諸島(しょとう)をめぐるクルーズに参加(さんか)した。
I joined a cruise around the Caribbean islands.
南西(なんせい)諸島(しょとう)は沖縄(おきなわ)から台湾(たいわん)にかけて連(つら)なる島々(しまじま)の総称(そうしょう)である。
The Nansei Islands is a collective name for the chain of islands extending from Okinawa to Taiwan.

Compound of 諸(しょ) (various, many) + 島(とう) (islands). Used as a suffix in geographical names.

COMMON EXAMPLES:

  • 小笠原(おがさわら)諸島(しょとう) (Ogasawara/Bonin Islands)
  • 南西(なんせい)諸島(しょとう) (Nansei/Ryukyu Islands)
  • 伊豆(いず)諸島(しょとう) (Izu Islands)
  • マーシャル諸島(しょとう) (Marshall Islands)

USAGE NOTE:
諸島(しょとう) and 群島(ぐんとう) (also "archipelago") are similar but differ in nuance. 諸島(しょとう) is a general term for a group of islands, while 群島(ぐんとう) specifically emphasizes a cluster of islands close together. 列島(れっとう) (island chain) emphasizes a linear arrangement.

general
Added 2026.2.28 21:14
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