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
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

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:

私は毎晩パジャマを着ます。

Watashi wa maiban pajama wo kimasu

I see pajamas every night.

I use pajamas every night.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
毎晩 (maiban) - adverb that means "every night"
パジャマ (pajama) - noun that means "pajamas"
を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
着ます (kimasu) - verb meaning "to put on"

私は毎日勉強します。

Watashi wa mainichi benkyō shimasu

I study every day.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
勉強 (benkyou) - noun meaning "study"
します (shimasu) - verb that means "to do"

私は片言の日本語しか話せません。

Watashi wa katagoto no nihongo shika hanasemasen

I can only speak a single Japanese word.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
片言 (katanaga) - noun that means "limited speech"
の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between words
日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
しか (shika) - particle that indicates exclusion or limitation
話せません (hanasemasen) - verb that means "I can't speak"

私は鍵を鞄にぶら下げました。

Watashi wa kagi wo kaban ni burasagerimashita

I put the key in my bag.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
鍵 (kagi) - noun that means "key"
を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
鞄 (kaban) - noun that means "backpack" or "bag"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination or location of the object
ぶら下げました (burasagemashita) - verb that means "to hang" or "to suspend"

私は鍋に野菜を浸けました。

Watashi wa nabe ni yasai o tsukemashita

I dived the vegetables in the pan.

I soaked vegetables in a pan.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
鍋 (nabe) - noun that means "pot"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the direction or target of the action
野菜 (yasai) - noun that means "vegetables"
を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
浸けました (tsukemashita) - verb that means "immersed" or "dipped" in the past

私は大学で日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa daigaku de nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu

I'm studying Japanese at the university.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
大学 (daigaku) - noun meaning "university"
で (de) - particle that indicates the location where the action takes place, in this case, "at the university"
日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
を (wo) - particle that marks the direct object of the sentence, indicating that "japanese" is the object of the action
勉強しています (benkyou shiteimasu) - verb meaning "to study" conjugated in the present continuous, indicating that the action is ongoing

私はその学会に参加したいです。

Watashi wa sono gakkai ni sanka shitai desu

I want to participate in that study group.

I want to attend the conference.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, indicating that the subject is "I"
その (sono) - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
学会 (gakkai) - noun meaning "academic society" or "scientific association"
に (ni) - particle indicating destination or target, indicating that the objective is to "participate" in the "academic society"
参加したい (sanka shitai) - "to want to participate"
です (desu) - particle that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence, equivalent to "to be" or "to have" in English

私は彼女に仕えることを決めました。

Watashi wa kanojo ni tsukaeru koto o kimemashita

I decided to serve her.

I decided to serve it.

私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "her" or "girlfriend"
に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case, "for her"
仕える (tsukaeru) - The word is "serve" or "work for"
こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to serve"
を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "to serve"
決めました (kimemashita) - verb that means "decide" in the past, in this case, "I decided (to serve her)"