bun2 zau1本州
Jyutpingbun2 zau1
Yalebún jāu
Definition
Honshu, the largest and most populous main island of Japan.
neutralplacestravel
How it's used
Geographic names of this type are often treated as proper nouns that do not require a classifier when used in casual speech. While it is the largest island, locals typically refer to specific cities like 東京 or 大阪 rather than the island name itself unless discussing travel logistics or regional geography.
Examples
I will go to Honshu for a few days next month.
Do you know that Honshu is the largest island in Japan?
Related words
Common phrases
Honshu Island
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.



