島 / island
島 (shima) means "island" in Japanese, referring to a piece of land surrounded by water. Japan itself is an island nation made up of thousands of islands, from large ones like Honshu and Hokkaido to tiny remote islands. 島 can also appear in place names (like 沖縄島 or 淡路島) and carries cultural meanings of isolation, community, and natural beauty.
Curious to hear more about it? Want to learn how to pronounce it? Watch or listen to Episode 9 using the below link 👇