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:

礼儀正しい人は尊敬される。

Reigi tadashii hito wa sonkei sareru

An educated and courteous person is respected.

Educated people are respected.

• 礼儀正しい - respectful, courteous
• 人 - person
• は - Topic particle
• 尊敬される - ser respeitado, ser admirado

硬貨を落とした。

Kouka wo otoshita

I dropped a coin.

I dropped the coin.

• 硬貨 (kouka) - Coin
• を (wo) - object particle
• 落とした (otoshita) - fell, dropped

祖先を大切にしましょう。

Sosen wo taisetsu ni shimashou

Let's value our ancestors.

Let's value your ancestors.

• 祖先 (sosen) - ancestral
• を (wo) - partícula que indica o objeto da frase
• 大切 (taisetsu) - importante, precioso
• に (ni) - particle indicating the manner or way in which something is done
• しましょう (shimashou) - vamos fazer, vamos fazer

社会人としての責任を果たす。

Shakaijin to shite no sekinin wo hatasu

Take responsibility as a member of society.

• 社会人 - shakaijin - person of society
• として - toshite - as, in the capacity of
• の - Não Possessive particle
• 責任 - responsibility - responsibility
• を - wo - direct object particle
• 果たす - hatasu - fulfill, carry out

禁じることは許されない。

Kinjiru koto wa yurusarenai

Prohibited is prohibited.

Prohibition is not allowed.

• 禁じる - forbid
• こと - thing
• は - Topic particle
• 許されない - not allowed

私の女房はとても美しいです。

Watashi no nyoubou wa totemo utsukushii desu

My wife is very beautiful.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 女房 - noun "wife"
• は - topic particle "は"
• とても - adverb "very"
• 美しい - adjective "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" (polite form)

私の婿はとても優しいです。

Watashi no muko wa totemo yasashii desu

My son-in-law is very kind.

My son - - -LAW is very kind.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my"
• 婿 - noun meaning "son-in-law"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the son-in-law"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい - adjective meaning "gentle, kind"
• です - verb to be in the polite form

私の役職はマネージャーです。

Watashi no yakushoku wa manējā desu

My position is manager.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 役職 - noun meaning "office" or "position"
• は - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "is"
• マネージャー - noun meaning "manager"
• です - verb that indicates to be or to exist, equivalent to "is"

私は古い靴を新しいものと替えました。

Watashi wa furui kutsu o atarashii mono to kaemashita

I changed my old shoes for new ones.

I changed old shoes with new ones.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 古い (furui) - Japanese adjective meaning "old"
• 靴 (kutsu) - Japanese noun meaning "shoe"
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action
• 新しい (atarashii) - 新しい (atarashii)
• もの (mono) - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• と (to) - particle indicating joint action, in this case, changing shoes
• 替えました (kaemashita) - Japanese verb meaning "changed"

私はまだ自分の人生の方向性を模索しています。

Watashi wa mada jibun no jinsei no hōkōsei o mosaku shite imasu

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• まだ (mada) - adverb meaning "yet"
• 自分 (jibun) - reflexive pronoun meaning "myself"
• の (no) - possessive particle indicating a relationship of ownership
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• の (no) - connecting particle linking "life" with "方向性"
• 方向性 (hōkōsei) - noun meaning "direction" or "orientation"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 模索しています (mosaku shiteimasu) - compound verb meaning "to search" or "to explore"