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:

私の日課は毎朝ジョギングすることです。

Watashi no nikka wa maiasa jogingu suru koto desu

My daily routine is running every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 日課 (nikka) - noun meaning "daily habit"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• ジョギング (jogingu) - noun meaning "race"
• する (suru) - verb that means "to do"
• こと (koto) - noun that means "thing"
• です (desu) - verb indicating to be, used for formality

私の人生は充実しています。

Watashi no jinsei wa juujitsu shiteimasu

My life is full of achievements.

My life is rewarding.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 充実しています (juujitsu shiteimasu) - Verb "estar" means "to be" and "preenchido/satisfeito" means "filled/satisfied" in the present progressive.

私の母親はとても優しいです。

Watashi no hahaoya wa totemo yasashii desu

My mother is very kind.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "of"
• 母親 (hahaoya) - noun meaning "mother"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 優しい (yasashii) - adjective meaning "kind"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私の職場はとても忙しいです。

Watashi no shokuba wa totemo isogashii desu

My workplace is very busy.

My workplace is very busy.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 職場 (shokuba) - noun meaning "workplace"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 忙しい (isogashii) - adjective meaning "busy" or "agitated"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私の靴は新しいです。

Watashi no kutsu wa atarashii desu

My shoes are new.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my"
• 靴 (kutsu) - noun meaning "shoe"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the shoes"
• 新しい (atarashii) - adjective meaning "new"
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating existence or state, in this case, "are"

私の嫁はとても美しいです。

Watashi no yome wa totemo utsukushii desu

My wife is very beautiful.

My bride is very beautiful.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle indicating possession, in this case "my"
• 嫁 (yome) - "the wife"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "my wife"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful way of speaking, in this case "is"

私の従姉妹はとても美しいです。

Watashi no jōshimai wa totemo utsukushii desu

My cousin is very beautiful.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "mine"
• 従姉妹 (joushimai) - noun meaning "second cousin"
• は (wa) - particle indicating the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my second cousin"
• とても (totemo) - adverb meaning "very"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私は大学院に進学したいです。

Watashi wa daigakuin ni shingaku shitai desu

I want to enter graduate school.

I want to go to graduate school.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 大学院 (daigakuin) - compound word that means "postgraduate"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination or purpose of an action, in this case "for"
• 進学 (shingaku) - composite word that means "advance in studies", in this case "go to graduate school"
• したい (shitai) - form of the verb "to want", in this case "I want"
• です (desu) - particle of completion that indicates a formal or polite statement

私はレストランで給仕をしています。

Watashi wa resutoran de kyuji o shiteimasu

I work as a waiter in a restaurant.

I serve in a restaurant.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• レストラン (resutoran) - word in Japanese that means "restaurant"
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 給仕 (kyuushi) - The word in Japanese that means "waiter/waitress" is ウェイター (weitaa) for waiter and ウェイトレス (weitoresu) for waitress.
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• しています (shiteimasu) - verb that indicates the action of "being doing" something in the present moment

私はそそっかしい人です。

Watashi wa sosokkashii hito desu

I am a distracted person.

I am a terrible person.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• そそっかしい (sosokkashii) - adjective meaning "distracted" or "inattentive"
• 人 (hito) - noun that means "person"
• です (desu) - linking verb that indicates the existence or identity of the subject