noun
islands
A somewhat formal or technical term for islands collectively, often used in geographical, political, or legal contexts.
日本の島嶼部では、交通手段が限られている。
In Japan's island regions, transportation options are limited.
島嶼国は気候変動の影響を受けやすい。
Island nations are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The common, everyday word for 'island'. 島嶼 is more formal and collective, often used in compound terms like 島嶼部 (island areas) or 島嶼国 (island nation).
Compound of 島 (island) and 嶼 (island, islet). Both characters carry the meaning of 'island', and together they form a collective term for islands or archipelagoes.