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:

珍しいものが好きです。

Chinashii mono ga suki desu

I like rare things.

I like something unusual.

珍しい - Rare, uncommon
もの - Thing
が - Subject particle
好き - Like
です - sentence-final particle

生きることは素晴らしいことです。

Ikiru koto wa subarashii koto desu

Living is a wonderful thing.

Living is great.

生きること - live
は - Topic particle
素晴らしい - amazing
こと - thing
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

瓶の中には美味しい酒が入っている。

Bin no naka ni wa oishii sake ga haitte iru

There's a delicious good in the bottle.

瓶 (bin) - bottle
の (no) - Possession particle
中 (naka) - inside
に (ni) - Location particle
は (wa) - Topic particle
美味しい (oishii) - delicious
酒 (sake) - Japanese alcoholic beverage
が (ga) - subject particle
入っている (haitteiru) - to be contained/inside

生物は自然界の多様性を表しています。

Seibutsu wa shizenkai no tayousei wo arawashite imasu

Living beings represent the diversity of nature.

Creatures represent the diversity of nature.

生物 - Japanese word meaning "living beings"
は - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
自然界 - Japanese word meaning "natural world"
の - Japanese grammatical particle indicating possession or relationship
多様性 - Japanese word meaning "diversity"
を - grammatical particle in Japanese that indicates the direct object of the sentence
表しています - Japanese verb meaning "to represent"

生涯を大切に過ごしたい。

Shougai wo taisetsu ni sugoshitai

I want to spend my life in a valuable way.

I want to spend my life carefully.

生涯 - Whole life
を - Direct object particle
大切に - with care, with importance
過ごしたい - Wanting to pass, wanting to live

生け花は美しい芸術です。

Ikebana wa utsukushii geijutsu desu

Fresh flowers are beautiful art.

生け花 - Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangements
は - Topic particle
美しい - beautiful
芸術 - art
です - is

留守にしています。

Rusuni shiteimasu

I'm away.

留守 (rusu) - absent, not present
に (ni) - particle that indicates the action of being in a place
しています (shiteimasu) - polite form of the verb "to do" in the present continuous

男性は強くて優しいです。

Danshi wa tsuyokute yasashii desu

Men are strong and kind.