Japanese word

列島

Pronunciation

Romajirettō

Meaning

  • nounarchipelago

Example

この列島は南北に長いです。ko no ret tō wa nan boku ni naga i de su

This archipelago stretches from north to south.

Illustration for 列島 (archipelago)

More examples

台風が列島を通過しています。tai fū ga ret tō o tsū ka shi te i ma su

A typhoon is passing through the archipelago.

Core concept

Describes a group of islands arranged in a long chain across a region.

Common phrases

  • 列島を縦断するret tō o jū dan su ru

    traverse the archipelago from north to south

Similar words

群島guntō: A collection of islands treated as one geographical unit, regardless of its shape.

Definition in Japanese

一続きに連なっている多くの島々。hito tsuzu ki ni tsura na tte i ru ō ku no shima jima

Word origin

列島 (rettō, "archipelago") combines 列 (retsu, "row") and 島 (tō, "island"), with the sounds joining as rettō.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese geography, 日本列島 (Nihon Rettō) refers to the long chain of islands that makes up Japan.

Word lists with this word