なんきょくたいりく
noun
Antarctica; the Antarctic continent
geography
1. Antarctica; the Antarctic continent
The continent surrounding the South Pole. Used when the landmass itself is meant, as distinct from 南極(なんきょく), which can refer more loosely to the South Pole or the Antarctic region.
南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)(こおり)(おお)われている
Antarctica is covered in ice.
南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)国境(こっきょう)ない
There are no national borders on the Antarctic continent.
It is said that if the ice of Antarctica melts, sea levels will rise significantly.

Formed from 南極(なんきょく) (South Pole, the Antarctic) plus 大陸(たいりく) (continent).

Common collocations

  • 南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)上陸(じょうりく)する: to land on the Antarctic continent
  • 南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)横断(おうだん): crossing Antarctica
  • 南極大陸(なんきょくたいりく)氷床(ひょうしょう): the Antarctic ice sheet

Similar words

  • 南極(なんきょく): the South Pole; the Antarctic — used for the point, the region, or loosely for the continent
  • 北極(ほっきょく): the Arctic — note that there is no 北極大陸(ほっきょくたいりく), since the Arctic is ocean rather than land