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:

私たちは目標を達成しました。すべてが完了しました。

Watashitachi wa mokuhyō o tassei shimashita. Subete ga ryō deshita

We reached our goal. Everything is finished.

We achieved our goals. Everything has been completed.

• 私たちは - We
• 目標を - objective
• 達成しました - we reached
• すべてが - everything
• 完了しました - has been completed

私は毎週新しい商品を仕入れます。

Watashi wa maishuu atarashii shouhin o shiirerimasu

I buy new products every week.

I buy new products every week.

• 私は - personal pronoun "I"
• 毎週 - adverb "weekly"
• 新しい - adjective "new"
• 商品を - noun "product" + particle "the" (direct object)
• 仕入れます - verb "comprar" (formal)

縄を使って遊ぶのは楽しいです。

Nawa o tsukatte asobu no wa tanoshii desu

Playing with rope is fun.

It's fun to play with a rope.

• 縄 (nawa) - rope
• を (wo) - object particle
• 使って (tsukatte) - using
• 遊ぶ (asobu) - play
• のは (no wa) - Topic particle
• 楽しい (tanoshii) - fun
• です (desu) - Ser/estar (polite form)

草履を履いて神社に行きました。

Waraji wo haite jinja ni ikimashita

I went to the shrine wearing zori.

I went to the shrine wearing sandals.

• 草履 - traditional Japanese sandals
• を - object particle
• 履いて - continuous form of the verb "履く" (to wear)
• 神社 - Shinto shrine
• に - target particle
• 行きました - The past tense of the verb "行く" (iku) is "行った" (itta).

蝶は美しい春の象徴です。

Chou wa utsukushii haru no shouchou desu

Butterflies are a beautiful symbol of spring.

Butterflies are a beautiful symbol of spring.

• 蝶 (ちょう) - butterfly
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい (うつくしい) - Beautiful, nice
• 春 (はる) - spring
• の - Possession particle
• 象徴 (しょうちょう) - symbol, emblem
• です - polite way of being

点々と星が輝く夜空が美しいです。

Ten ten to hoshi ga kagayaku yozora ga utsukushii desu

The night with shining stars dotted is beautiful.

The night sky where the star shines is beautiful.

• 点々と - Dotted
• 星が - stars
• 輝く - shining
• 夜空が - night sky
• 美しいです - pretty

直接会って話しましょう。

Chokusetsu atte hanashimashou

Let's meet in person and talk.

I see you directly and speak.

• 直接 (chokusetsu) - directly
• 会って (atte) - finding oneself
• 話しましょう (hanashimashou) - let's chat

確認してから行動してください。

Kakunin shite kara kōdō shite kudasai

Please confirm before taking action.

Please check before acting.

• 確認して - Confirm
• から - E então
• 行動してください - I'm sorry, but "aja" does not provide enough context for translation. Please provide a complete string or sentence for translation.

私は毎日新聞を講読しています。

Watashi wa mainichi shinbun o koudoku shiteimasu

I read the newspaper every day.

I am reading the newspaper every day.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 毎日 - "every day"
• 新聞 - "newspaper"
• を - direct object particle
• 講読 - "read aloud; read in public"
• しています - polite form of the verb "to do" in the present continuous

私は日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu

I'm studying Japanese.

I'm studying Japanese.

• 私 - means "I" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I".
• 日本語 - means "Japanese" in Japanese.
• を - is a grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "Japanese".
• 勉強 - means "study" in Japanese.
• しています - is a conjugation of the verb "suru" which indicates action in progress, in this case, "I'm studying".