岛 (dǎo) — island
Definition
Common everyday word for 'island.' 岛屿 is more formal and written, often used in geographic or literary contexts.
noun
island
Measure word · 个, 座
Examples
- 岛。Zhè zuò dǎo shàng zhù zhe hěn duō yú mín.Many fishermen live on this island.
- 。Wǒ men zuò chuán qù le yí gè měi lì de xiǎo dǎo.We took a boat to a beautiful small island.
- 岛。Zhè ge dǎo de fēng jǐng fēi cháng mí rén.The scenery on this island is very charming.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 島; 岛 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
鳥
鳥niǎo島dǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 島 uses 山, meaning mountain, and 鳥 for the sound. The simplified 岛 is a later shorthand.
Appears in
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