岛屿 (dǎo yǔ) — island | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

岛屿 is the more formal, written word for 'island.' In everyday speech, use 岛.

noun

island

Measure word · 座

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

Both 岛 and 屿 refer to islands, so the word means island.

Characters in this word

Most 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

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.

Most 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 嶼; 屿 is its simplified writing.

山與嶼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

與

與yǔ嶼yǔ

Same sound today

The traditional form 嶼 uses 山 (mountain) for its meaning and 與 (yǔ) for its sound; the simplified 屿 is a shorthand.

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