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岛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
岛
dǎo
island
HSK 6, n, 7 strokes, radical 山, rank #1017, Hard
dǎo(dao3)dao T3
1island
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March 24, 2026
岛(㠀)dǎo(dao3)
The character 岛 (dǎo) means 'island' and refers to a landmass surrounded by water. It is commonly used in geographical contexts and can denote both large and small islands. The term is also often used in expressions related to travel and nature.
Strokes7Radical山Frequency#1017DifficultyHard
Cultural note
Islands hold significant cultural importance in China, with renowned destinations like Hainan Island, known for its tropical climate and tourism. The concept of islands often embodies themes of escape and tranquility in Chinese literature and art.
Memory tip
Imagine an island shaped like a big 'D' floating on the water. The 'D' reminds you of the pronunciation 'dǎo.' Picture yourself on this island, surrounded by waves, to solidify the image and connection between the character and its meaning.
Meanings of 岛
dǎo(dao3)
1island
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 岛 means.
About 岛
岛Simplified
㠀Traditional
7Strokes
山Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1017Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 岛
Podcast: 岛
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AI study notes for 岛
Quick Contrast
岛 (dǎo) vs 半岛 (bàndǎo) — use 岛 for a fully surrounded landmass, while 半岛 refers to a landmass partially surrounded by water.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 岛 (dǎo) with similar characters, as they may have different tones and meanings. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 岛屿 (dǎoyǔ), meaning 'island' or 'islets.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 岛 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it can be useful for learners at HSK 3 and above. Focus on practicing related vocabulary such as 海 (hǎi, sea) and 岸 (àn, shore) to deepen your understanding of geographical terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'dao' instead of 'dǎo,' which alters the meaning. Another common mistake is using the character inappropriately in plural contexts; for example, saying '岛们' (dǎo men) instead of just '岛' for islands.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 岛
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The character 岛 (dǎo) means 'island' and refers to a landmass surrounded by water. It is commonly used in geographical contexts and can denote both large and small islands. The term is also often used in expressions related to travel and nature.
When to use 岛
Be careful not to confuse 岛 (dǎo) with similar characters, as they may have different tones and meanings. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 岛屿 (dǎoyǔ), meaning 'island' or 'islets.'
岛 or something close to it
岛 (dǎo) vs 半岛 (bàndǎo) — use 岛 for a fully surrounded landmass, while 半岛 refers to a landmass partially surrounded by water.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong tone, saying 'dao' instead of 'dǎo,' which alters the meaning. Another common mistake is using the character inappropriately in plural contexts; for example, saying '岛们' (dǎo men) instead of just '岛' for islands.
Write 岛
岛
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Practice writing 岛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 岛
岛 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
梅诺卡____是那种适合家庭旅游的地方。
Minorca is the sort of place that caters for families.
Common confusions with 岛
岛vs导
dǎo
Same pronunciation but different meaning and usage.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “island”?
or
Usage Notes for 岛
Confusion with Simplified CharactersCommon Error
Learners often confuse 岛 (dǎo) with its simplified form 島. Be sure to recognize both forms in different contexts.
1
这个岛很漂亮。
This island is beautiful.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这个____很漂亮。
This island is beautiful.
Example sentences for 岛 (15)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
梅诺卡岛是那种适合家庭旅游的地方。
méi nuò kǎ dǎo shì nà zhǒng shìhé jiātíng lǚyóu de dìfang。
Minorca is the sort of place that caters for families.
2
岛的最高处耸立着一座巨大的黑色城堡。
dǎo de zuì gāo chǔ sǒnglì zhe yī zuò jùdà de hēisè chéngbǎo。
Castle-hunters won't be disappointed with the Isle of Man.
11
这座岛的风景美得让人流连忘返。
Zhè zuò dǎo de fēngjǐng měi de ràng rén liúlián wàng fǎn.
The scenery of this island is so beautiful that it makes people linger.
12
岛上的居民主要依靠渔业和旅游业为生。
Dǎo shàng de jūmín zhǔyào yīkào yúyè hé lǚyóuyè wéi shēng.
The island's residents mainly rely on fishing and tourism for their livelihood.
13
这个岛因其丰富的自然资源而闻名。
Zhège dǎo yīn qí fēngfù de zìrán zīyuán ér wénmíng.
This island is famous for its abundant natural resources.
14
岛屿附近的水域是潜水爱好者的天堂。
Dǎoyǔ fùjìn de shuǐyù shì qiánshuǐ àihǎozhě de tiāntáng.
The waters near the island are a paradise for diving enthusiasts.
15
我们计划下个月去一个热带岛度假。
Wǒmen jìhuà xià gè yuè qù yīgè rèdài dǎo dùjià.
We plan to vacation on a tropical island next month.
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Word Family of 岛
Compounds1
捣dǎopound
Words containing this character20
岛dǎoisland島
青岛qīngdǎoQingdao, subprovincial city in Shandong青島
胰岛素yídǎosùinsulin胰島素
半岛bàndǎopeninsula半島
岛屿dǎoyǔisland島嶼
长岛chángdǎoChangdao county in Yantai 煙台|烟台[Yāntái], Shandong長島
群岛qúndǎoarchipelago群島
朝鲜半岛cháoxiǎnbàndǎoKorean Peninsula朝鮮半島
小岛xiǎodǎoKojima (Japanese surname and place name)小島
青岛市qīngdǎoshìQingdao, subprovincial city in Shandong青島市
海岛hǎidǎoisland海島
冰岛bīngdǎoIceland冰島
广岛guǎngdǎoHiroshima, Japan廣島
孤岛gūdǎoisolated island孤島
巴厘岛bālídǎoBali (island in Indonesia)巴厘島
秦皇岛qínhuángdǎoQinhuangdao prefecture level city in Hebei秦皇島
环岛huándǎoroundabout (traffic island)環島
关岛guāndǎoGuam關島
岛国dǎoguóisland nation (sometimes refers specifically to Japan)島國
荒岛huāngdǎobarren or uninhabited island荒島
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 岛
What does 捣 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 岛
岛 (dǎo) is the simplified version of the traditional character 島 (dǎo). Both characters have the same pronunciation and meaning, but 岛 is used in mainland China, while 島 is commonly used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Yes, 岛 (dǎo) can be used in various compound words and phrases, such as '热带岛屿' (rèdài dǎoyǔ), which means 'tropical islands.' It's commonly found in geographical terms and names related to islands.
岛 (dǎo) means 'island' in Chinese. It is a noun used to refer to a landmass that is surrounded by water. The character is often used in geographical contexts and can also appear in various place names.
You can use 岛 (dǎo) in a sentence to refer to an island, such as in '这座岛很美' (zhè zuò dǎo hěn měi), which means 'This island is beautiful.' Remember to use the correct measure word when needed, such as 座 (zuò) for larger islands.
It is pronounced as 'dǎo' with the third tone.
Yes, 岛 can refer to both small and large landmasses, but context is important to convey the intended meaning.
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