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:

歌謡は日本の伝統的な音楽ジャンルです。

Kayou wa Nihon no dentouteki na ongaku janru desu

Kayo is a traditional Japanese music genre.

• 歌謡 - Japanese folk song
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Japan
• の - Possession particle
• 伝統的な - Traditional
• 音楽 - music
• ジャンル - genre
• です - Verb ser/estar (polite form)

正しく行動することが大切です。

Tadashiku koudou suru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to act correctly.

• 正しく - adverb meaning "correctly"
• 行動する - verb that means "to act, to behave"
• こと - noun that means "thing, fact"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 大切 - Adjective meaning "important, valuable"
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of speech

正しい道を歩きましょう。

Tadashii michi wo arukimashou

Let's walk the right way.

Let's walk the right road.

• 正しい - adjective meaning "correct" or "right"
• 道 - noun meaning "path" or "road"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 歩き - verb meaning "walk" or "walk"
• ましょう - suffix indicating a suggestion or invitation to do something

毎日勉強します。

Mainichi benkyō shimasu

I study every day.

• 毎日 - every day
• 勉強 - study
• します - make

民間企業は経済の発展に重要な役割を果たしています。

Minkan kigyou wa keizai no hatten ni juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu

Private companies play an important role in the development of the economy.

• 民間企業 - Private companies
• は - Topic particle
• 経済 - economy
• の - Possession particle
• 発展 - development
• に - target particle
• 重要 - important
• な - adjective particle
• 役割 - role/function
• を - direct object particle
• 果たしています - perform (verb)

汚い部屋を掃除しましょう。

Kitanai heya wo souji shimashou

Let's clean the dirty room.

Clean the dirty room.

• 汚い - dirty
• 部屋 - fourth
• を - direct object particle
• 掃除 - cleaning
• しましょう - let's do it

永久に愛してる

Eikyuu ni aishiteru

I love you forever.

I love you forever

• 永久に - means "forever" in Japanese
• 愛してる - It's a contraction of the phrase "愛している", which means "I love you" in Japanese.

水面に映る夕日は美しいです。

Suimen ni utsuru yuuhi wa utsukushii desu

The sunset reflected on the surface of the water is beautiful.

The sunset on the surface of the water is beautiful.

• 水面に - "on the surface of the water"
• 映る - "reflected"
• 夕日 - "sunset"
• 美しい - "bonito"
• です - "is"

沸騰した湯でお茶を入れると美味しいです。

Futtou shita yu de ocha wo ireru to oishii desu

It is delicious to add tea with boiling water.

• 沸騰した - fervent
• 湯 - hot water
• お茶 - tea
• 入れる - place
• 美味しい - delicious
• です - is

沖縄は美しい島です。

Okinawa wa utsukushii shima desu

Okinawa is a beautiful island.

• 沖縄 - Okinawa, name of the region the sentence refers to
• は - Topic marker, indicates that the subject of the sentence is Okinawa.
• 美しい - beautiful
• 島 - island
• です - verb to be in present, indicating that Okinawa is a beautiful island