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:

彼は恥ずかしくて俯いていた。

Kare wa hazukashikute utsumuite ita

He was embarrassed and looking down.

He was embarrassed and refused.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
恥ずかしい (hazukashii) - Embarrassed
くて (kute) - Suffix indicating a condition or state
俯いていた (utsumuiteita) - I was looking down

彼は新しい役職に任命された。

Kare wa atarashii yakushoku ni ninmei sareta

He was appointed to a new post.

He was appointed as a new position.

彼 (kare) - he
は (wa) - Topic particle
新しい (atarashii) - new
役職 (yakushoku) - position
に (ni) - target particle
任命された (ninmei sareta) - was appointed

彼は的確な答えを出した。

Kare wa tekikaku na kotae o dashita

He gave an accurate answer.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
的確な (tekikakuna) - I need, exact
答え (kotae) - Reply
を (wo) - Direct object particle
出した (dashita) - Gave, presented

彼は道を引き返した。

Kare wa michi o hikikaeshita

He turned back.

He's back.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
道 (michi) - Path
を (wo) - Direct object particle
引き返した (hikikaeshita) - He went back.

彼は私を騙した。

Kare wa watashi o damashita

He tricked me.

彼 (kare) - He
は (wa) - Topic particle
私 (watashi) - I
を (wo) - Direct object particle
騙した (damashita) - Deceived

彼は強引な方法で彼女を説得しようとした。

Kare wa gouin na houhou de kanojo o settoku shiyou to shita

He tried to persuade his girlfriend in a very insistent way.

He tried to convince her with brute force.

彼 - He
は - Topic particle
強引 - Forced, coercive
な - Suffix indicating adjective
方法 - Method, way
で - Particle indicating medium, instrument
彼女 - Girlfriend, she
を - Direct object particle
説得 - Convince, persuade
しよう - Volitional form of the verb suru (to do)
とした - Tried

彼は約束を果たした。

Kare wa yakusoku o hatashita

He fulfilled his promise.

彼 - Japanese pronoun meaning "he".
は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "he".
約束 - Japanese noun that means "promise".
を - Japanese particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "promise".
果たした - Japanese verb that means "to fulfill".

彼は恥ずかしさから引っ込んでしまった。

Kare wa hazukashisa kara hikkonde shimatta

He retreated out of shame.

He was removed from the embarrassment.

彼 - Japanese pronoun meaning "he".
は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
恥ずかしさ - Japanese noun meaning "shame" or "shyness".
から - Japanese particle that indicates the cause or reason for something.
引っ込んでしまった - Japanese verb meaning "to withdraw" or "to retreat" and the particle しまった indicates that the action has been completed in a negative or unwanted way.

彼はお茶に砂糖を注した。

Kare wa ocha ni satou o sosshita

He put sugar in the tea.

He poured sugar into his tea.