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:

煎ったコーヒーがとても香ばしいです。

Senatta kōhī ga totemo kōbashiidesu

The roasted coffee has a very pleasant aroma.

Roasted coffee is very fragrant.

• 煎った - The verb "seneru", which means "to toast"
• コーヒー - Noun "koohii," which means "coffee."
• が - particle "ga", which indicates the subject of the sentence
• とても - adverb "totemo", which means "very"
• 香ばしい - Adjective "kabashii", which means "fragrant, aromatic".
• です - verb "desu", which indicates the polite way of saying something

煌々と輝く星空が美しいです。

Koukou to kagayaku hoshizora ga utsukushii desu

The bright starry sky is beautiful.

The starry and bright sky is beautiful.

• 煌々と - shiny, sparkling
• 輝く - shine, glitter
• 星空 - Starlit sky
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - pretty, beautiful
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

物は言い訳をしない。

Mono wa iiwake o shinai

Objects Don't Make Excusses.

Things do not apologize.

• 物 - means "thing" in Japanese
• は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that the previous word is the subject of the sentence
• 言い訳 - means "sorry" in Japanese
• を - object particle in Japanese, indicating that the previous word is the object of the sentence
• しない - The negative form of the verb "fazer" in Japanese, indicating that the action is not performed
• . - full stop, indicating the end of the sentence

片道の切符を買いました。

Kataomoi no kippu o kaimashita

I bought a first trip.

I bought a ticket from one way.

• 片道 - means "one way" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two words.
• 切符 - It means "ticket" in Japanese.
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 買いました - The verb "comprar" in the past is "bought".

物資が不足しています。

Butsuzi ga fusoku shiteimasu

There is a shortage of supplies.

• 物資 - It means "supplies" or "materials".
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 不足しています - It is a verb that means "to be lacking" or "to be scarce".

独りでいるのは寂しい。

Hitori de iru no wa sabishii

Being alone is lonely.

I'm alone for being alone.

• 独り (hitori) - alone
• で (de) - a particle indicating a medium or place
• いる (iru) - be, exist
• のは (no wa) - particle indicating sentence topic
• 寂しい (sabishii) - lonely, sad

王子は美しい庭園を持っています。

Ōji wa utsukushii teien o motteimasu

The prince has a beautiful garden.

• 王子 (ou ōji) - means "prince" in Japanese
• は (ou wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "prince"
• 美しい (ou utsukushii) - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• 庭園 (ou teien) - noun meaning "garden" or "park" in Japanese
• を (ou o) - direct object particle in Japanese, indicates that "garden" is the direct object of the action
• 持っています (ou motteimasu) - verb meaning "to have" or "to possess" in Japanese, in the present continuous tense

玉は美しい宝石です。

Gyoku wa utsukushii houseki desu

The ball is a beautiful gem.

• 玉 - means "precious stone" or "sphere" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 美しい - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• 宝石 - means "precious stone" or "jewel" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating a statement or declaration

玄人はその分野のプロフェッショナルです。

Gennin wa sono bun'ya no purofesshonaru desu

The specialist is a professional in the field.

• 玄人 (Kengin) - Specialist, expert, expert
• は (wa) - Topic particle, indicates the subject of the sentence
• その (sono) - That, that, this
• 分野 (bunya) - Field, area, branch
• の (no) - Possessive particle, indicates that "bunya" is possessed by "kengin."
• プロフェッショナル (purofesshonaru) - Professional
• です (desu) - The verb "to be" indicates that "kengin" is a "purofesshonaru" in "bunya".

現代はテクノロジーの進歩によって驚くべき変化を遂げています。

Gendai wa tekunorojī no shinpo ni yotte odorokubeki henka o togete imasu

The modern age has made incredible changes with technological advances.

• 現代 (Gendai) - means "current" or "modern"
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• テクノロジー (tekunorojii) - a word borrowed from English meaning "technology"
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 進歩 (shinpo) - means "progress" or "advance"
• によって (ni yotte) - expression that indicates the cause or means by which something happens
• 驚くべき (odoroku beki) - adjective meaning "surprising" or "astonishing"
• 変化 (henka) - means "change" or "transformation"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 遂げています (tasshite imasu) - verb meaning "to accomplish" or "to conclude" in the present progressive tense