Translation and Meaning of: し - shi

The Japanese word し (shi) is a short term, but full of nuances and interesting uses in the Japanese language. If you are learning Japanese or are just curious about the language, understanding the meaning and context of this word can be very helpful. In this article, we will explore from the basics, like its translation and writing, to deeper aspects, such as its cultural usage and frequency in daily life. Suki Nihongo, the best online Japanese dictionary, is a great tool to complement your learning.

In addition to being a grammatical particle and a common suffix, し also appears in expressions and even in Japanese proverbs. Its simplicity hides a wealth of meanings that vary according to the context. Let's unravel all of this clearly and directly, without unnecessary complications.

Meaning and uses of the word し

In its most basic form, し can be translated as "and" or "besides" when used as a particle. It connects sentences or ideas, adding a tone of enumeration or justification. For example, in a sentence like "寒いし、疲れたし、家に帰りたい" (Samui shi, tsukareta shi, ie ni kaeritai), the translation would be "It's cold, I'm tired and I want to go home." Here, し helps to list reasons naturally.

Another common use of し is as a suffix in words like 願いし (negaishi) or 思し (omoishi), although these cases are rarer in modern Japanese. It is worth noting that, unlike other particles, し carries a nuance of emphasis, often indicating that there are more reasons beyond those mentioned. This subtlety may go unnoticed by beginners, but it is essential for a more advanced mastery of the language.

The origin and writing of し

The word し is written in hiragana, one of the Japanese syllabaries, but it also corresponds to the kanji 死, which means "death." However, it is important to highlight that the use of the kanji 死 to represent し is restricted to specific contexts, such as compound words or expressions. Most of the time, especially when functioning as a particle, し appears in hiragana to avoid ambiguities.

Regarding its origin, し comes from Old Japanese and has roots in Classical language. Its evolution has accompanied the grammatical simplification of the language over the centuries. Although it is not one of the oldest particles, its use became established during the Edo period, when the Japanese language underwent various structural changes. Today, it is a common word both in everyday speech and in informal writing.

Curiosities and tips for memorizing し

An interesting fact about し is that, although it seems simple, many Japanese learners take time to realize its function of connecting ideas with emphasis. A helpful tip for memorizing its use is to associate it with situations where you want to list reasons or justify something. For example, when explaining why you didn't leave the house, saying "雨だし、忙しいし" (Ame da shi, isogashii shi) sounds more natural than simply listing the facts without the particle.

Moreover, し often appears in dialogues of animes and dramas, which can aid in learning. Paying attention to how characters use this particle in emotional or explanatory contexts is a practical way to absorb its meaning. Suki Nihongo provides real examples of sentences with し, making it easier to understand its application in daily life.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 四 (shi) - four
• 詩 (shi) - poetry
• 志 (shi) - Determination; aspiration
• 士 (shi) - Samurai; warrior
• 仕 (shi) - Service; work
• 死 (shi) - Death
• 私 (shi) - Private; I (pronoun)
• 始 (shi) - Start; begin
• 子 (shi) - Son; child
• 指 (shi) - Pointing; finger
• 持 (ji) - Possess; hold
• 試 (shi) - Test; to experiment
• 旨 (shi) - Purpose; intention
• 誌 (shi) - Record; annals
• 織 (shiki) - Weave; fabric
• 視 (shi) - Vision; gaze
• 紫 (shi) - Purple
• 湿 (shitsu) - damp
• 摯 (shi) - Sincere feeling; deep
• 雌 (shi) - Female; woman
• 詩人 (shijin) - poet
• 資格 (shikaku) - Qualification; condition
• 指導 (shidou) - Guidance; leadership

し

Romaji: shi
Kana: し
Type: Letter
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: 10^24 (Kanji is Jis X 0212 Kuten 4906); Settillion (American); Quadrillion (British)

Meaning in English: 10^24 (kanji is JIS X 0212 kuten 4906);septillion (American);quadrillion (British)

Definition: shi [automatic] 1. Appear alone, without worrying about anything else. say. "Please be considerate." 2 Pretending to know. “Even though I'm good at this, I'm not as good as him.” 3 Bring it out. "I complained about the title." 【other】 1 Ask. Visit. "There is nothing you don't understand. I'm thinking of trying..." 2 Ask. Ask questions and ask questions. "This is a subject where you should use your wisdom in the best way possible." 3. Ask the other person by phone or letter. "How are you? Let's meet."

Example Sentences - (し) shi

See below some example sentences:

高原には美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Takahara ni wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

There is a lot of beautiful nature on the plateau.

• 高原 - plateau
• には - indicates the location of the phrase
• 美しい - beautiful
• 自然 - nature
• が - subject particle
• たくさん - many
• あります - exists

鬱陶しい天気ですね。

Utsuodashii tenki desu ne

The weather is so boring.

It's irritating weather.

• 鬱陶しい - Japanese word meaning "depressing", "boring" or "annoying".
• 天気 - Japanese word meaning "time" or "climate".
• です - Japanese word that indicates the verb "to be" in the present tense.
• ね - Japanese particle that indicates a rhetorical question or confirmation.

髪が長い女性は美しいです。

Kami ga nagai josei wa utsukushii desu

Women with long hair are beautiful.

Women with long hair are beautiful.

• 髪が長い - long hair
• 女性 - woman
• 美しい - beautiful
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

ご無沙汰しております。

Gobusata shite orimasu

I've been missing you for a long time.

That was some time ago.

• ご - Japanese honorific that indicates respect or courtesy.
• 無 - negation, absence
• 沙 - Sand
• 汰 - purification, selection
• して - form of the verb "suru" (する) in the gerund
• おります - honorific form of the verb "iru" (to be) in the present
• ます - honorific suffix that indicates respect or courtesy

このシャツには皺がある。

Kono shatsu ni wa shiwa ga aru

This shirt has wrinkles.

• この - demonstrative "this"
• シャツ - noun "shirt"
• には - particle that indicates "in" or "to"
• 皺 - noun "wrinkle"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ある - verb "to exist"

このプロジェクトのテーマは何ですか？

Kono purojekuto no tēma wa nan desu ka?

What is the theme of this project?

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• プロジェクト - noun meaning "project"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• テーマ - noun meaning "theme"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 何 - interrogative pronoun that means "what"
• ですか - polite way to ask in Japanese

この映画の脚本は素晴らしいです。

Kono eiga no kyakuhon wa subarashii desu

The script for this film is wonderful.

• この - Demonstrative pronoun meaning "this" or "this one".
• 映画 - noun that means "movie".
• の - Particle that indicates possession or relationship.
• 脚本 - noun that means "script".
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 素晴らしい - adjective meaning "wonderful" or "excellent".
• です - verb "to be" in the present tense and polite form.

この部屋は整然としている。

Kono heya wa seizen to shite iru

This room is organized.

This room is organic.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• 部屋 - noun that means "room" or "hall"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 整然としている - compound verb that means "to be organized" or "to be tidy"

このセーターは洗濯したら縮んでしまった。

Kono seetaa wa sentaku shitara chijinde shimatta

This shirt shrunk when I washed it.

This sweater has shrunk when washed.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• セーター - noun that means "sweater"
• は - partopic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "this sweater"
• 洗濯したら - verb 洗濯する (sentaku suru) in the past conditional, meaning "if I washed"
• 縮んでしまった - The verb 縮む (chijimu) in the past, which means "shrank", and the auxiliary しまう (shimau) indicating that the action was completed.

ジーパンを履くとカッコいい。

Jiipan wo haku to kakkoi

It's nice to use jeans.

• ジーパン - jeans
• を - partícula que indica o objeto da frase
• 履く - to wear (bottoms)
• と - partícula que indica uma condição ou situação
• カッコいい - cool, stylish