island
N2- Onyomi
- トウ
- Kunyomi
- しま
- Stroke count
- 10
- JLPT
- N2
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 島 down and you get 鳥 (bird) — a bird with its eye, wing and tail feathers, and beside it 山 (mountain) — three peaks rising side by side. Picture a small bird perched with its wing folded, put 島 inside it, and let that scene stand for "island" — island. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 10
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は10画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 10 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
島
shima
island
島に行きます
shimaniikimasu
to go to the island
島の近くです
shimanochikakudesu
near the island
島に着きました
shimanitsukimashita
arrived at the island
島で働いています
shimadehataraiteimasu
to work at the island
Example sentences (2)
週末に船で島へ行きました。
しゅうまつ に ふね で しま へ いきました。
shuumatsu ni fune de shima e ikimashita.
I went to an island by boat on the weekend.
その島へは、船でしか行けません。
その しま へ は、ふね で しか いけません。
sono shima e wa, fune de shika ikemasen.
You can only get to that island by boat.