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
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

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:

彼は規則に反する行動をした。

Kare wa kisoku ni hansuru koudou o shita

He acted in disagreement with the rules.

He acted against the rules.

彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
は - Japanese topic particle
規則 - Japanese noun meaning "rule"
に - destination particle in Japanese
反する - Japanese verb that means "to go against", "violate"
行動 - Japanese noun meaning "action"
を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
した - Japanese past tense verb meaning "did"

彼は道から逸れてしまった。

Kare wa michi kara soreru shita

He got off track.

He veered off the road.

彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
は - Japanese topic particle
道 - Japanese noun meaning "way"
から - particle indicating origin or starting point in Japanese
逸れて - Japanese verb that means "to deviate" or "to distance oneself"
しまった - past form of the Japanese verb "shimau", which indicates completed action or negative result

彼は頼もしい人です。

Kare wa tanomoshii hito desu

He is a reliable person.

彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
は - topic particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, in this case "he"
頼もしい - Japanese adjective that means "reliable", "trustworthy", "worthy of trust"
人 - Japanese noun meaning "person"
です - Japanese linking verb indicating the state or condition of the subject, in this case "is"

彼は道を折り返した。

Kare wa michi o orikaeshita

He turned back on the road.

He returned to the road.

彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
は - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "he"
道 - Japanese noun meaning "way"
を - object particle indicating that "way" is the direct object of the action
折り返した - Japanese past tense verb meaning "came back"

彼は手を挙げて質問をした。

Kare wa te o agete shitsumon o shita

He raised his hand and asked a question.

彼 - The Japanese personal pronoun that means "he" is "彼" (kare).
は - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "he"
手 - Japanese noun meaning "hand"
を - object particle indicating that "hand" is the direct object of the action
挙げて - Japanese verb meaning "lift" or "raise", conjugated in the gerund to indicate that the action is in progress
質問 - Japanese noun meaning "question"
を - object particle that indicates that "question" is the direct object of the action
した - Japanese verb "suru", conjugated in the past to indicate that the action has already been completed.

彼は落第してしまった。

Kare wa rakudai shite shimatta

He failed on the exam.

He fell.

彼 - pronoun that means "he"
は - topic particle indicating that the subject of the sentence is "he"
落第 - noun that means "failure in an exam", "disapproval"
してしまった - verb composed of the te form of the verb "suru" (to do) and the verb "shimau" (to complete, to finish), indicating that the action of "failing" has already been completed

彼は車を運転中に猫を轢いてしまった。

Kare wa kuruma o untenchuu ni neko o hikikatte shimatta

He ran over a cat while driving.

He ran over a cat while driving a car.

彼 - pronoun that means "he"
は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "he"
車 - noun that means "car"
を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "car"
運転中 - compound noun that means "during driving"
に - particle indicating the moment when the action took place, in this case, "during the driving"
猫 - noun that means "cat"
を - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "cat"
轢いてしまった - compound verb that means "ran over/accidentally ran over"