群島

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 群島 is read as ぐんとう and means an archipelago or island group.
• Basic usage: It can identify a chain of small islands crossed by a boat or an island group located on a map.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Passing through an island group
  • 島が連なる群島 is an archipelago made up of a chain of small islands. Example: 船は小さな島が連なる群島を抜けた。
• Locating an island group
  • 火山活動によって生まれた群島 is the island group formed by volcanic activity and checked on the map. Example: 火山活動によって生まれた群島を地図で確認した。