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

Related words

ブラシ

burashi

brush; brush

ビジネス

bizinesu

business

バッジ

bazi

distinctive

パジャマ

pazyama

Pajamas; pajamas

トランジスター

toranzisuta-

transistor

ティッシュペーパー

thisyupe-pa-

tissue

デコレーション

dekore-syon

decoration

デモンストレーション

demonsutore-syon

demonstration

チェンジ

tyenzi

change

タクシー

takushi-

Taxi

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."

Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (し) shi

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (し) shi:

Example Sentences - (し) shi

See below some example sentences:

彼は自分の部屋にランプを吊るした。

Kare wa jibun no heya ni ranpu o tsuru shita

He hung a lamp in his room.

彼 (kare) - he (personal pronoun)
は (wa) - Topic particle
自分 (jibun) - Yourself
の (no) - Possessive particle
部屋 (heya) - Room, living room
に (ni) - Location particle
ランプ (ranpu) - lamp
を (wo) - direct object particle
吊るす (tsurusu) - to hang
た (ta) - past form of the verb

彼は高いビルから街を見下ろしていた。

Kare wa takai biru kara machi o mioroshite ita

He was looking at the city on top of a high building.

He looked at the city of a high building.

彼 (kare) - he (personal pronoun)
は (wa) - Topic particle
高い (takai) - tall (adjective)
ビル (biru) - building (noun)
から (kara) - of, from (particle)
街 (machi) - city (noun)
を (wo) - direct object particle
見下ろしていた (mioroshiteita) - was looking down (verb in past progressive tense)

彼はナイフで私を刺した。

Kare wa naifu de watashi o sashita

He stabbed me with a knife.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
ナイフ (naifu) - Knife
で (de) - Instrument particle
私 (watashi) - I
を (wo) - Direct object particle
刺した (sashita) - Pierced, stabbed (past tense of the verb 刺す - sasu)

彼はとても優しい人です。

Kare wa totemo yasashii hito desu

He is a very kind person.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
とても (totemo) - Very
優しい (yasashii) - kind
人 (hito) - Person
です (desu) - Verb to be in the polite form

彼は使命を遣るために出発した。

Kare wa shimei o yaru tame ni shuppatsu shita

He left to fulfill his mission.

He went out to take on a mission.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
使命 (shimei) - mission
を (wo) - Direct object particle
遣る (yaru) - accomplish
ために (tameni) - For
出発 (shuppatsu) - Match
した (shita) - past tense of the verb "to do"

彼はバンドから脱退した。

Kare wa bando kara dattai shita

He left the band.

彼 (kare) - he
は (wa) - Topic particle
バンド (bando) - band
から (kara) - from, starting at
脱退した (dattai shita) - left, it has gone out

「彼は偉大な指導者として仰っしゃる。」

Kare wa idai na shidōsha to shite ossharu

He is revered as a great leader.

He is a great leader.

彼 (kare) - he
は (wa) - Topic particle
偉大な (idai na) - Great, magnificent
指導者 (shidousha) - leader, guide
として (toshite) - as, in the capacity of
仰っしゃる (ossharu) - expression of respect when speaking of someone, in this case, "is considered"