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:

私は来月入社します。

Watashi wa raigetsu nyūsha shimasu

I will join the company next month.

I will join the company next month.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 来月 (raigetsu) - means "next month" in Japanese
• 入社 (nyūsha) - "Joining the company" in Japanese
• します (shimasu) - Politeness form of the verb "to do" in Japanese

私は毎日工作をしています。

Watashi wa mainichi kousaku wo shiteimasu

I work everyday.

I work every day.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - means "every day" in Japanese
• 工作 (kousaku) - "work" in Japanese.
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• しています (shiteimasu) - the polite form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese, conjugated in the present continuous

私は嬉しいです。

Watashi wa ureshii desu

I'm happy.

I am happy.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 嬉しい (ureshii) - adjective meaning "happy" or "content"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the present tense and formality of the sentence

私はラケットでテニスをします。

Watashi wa raketto de tenisu o shimasu

I play tennis with a racket.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• ラケット (raketto) - Japanese word meaning "racket"
• で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the means or instrument used to perform an action
• テニス (tenisu) - word in Japanese that means "tennis"
• を (wo) - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• します (shimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish"

私は彼女の悲しみに同情します。

Watashi wa kanojo no kanashimi ni dōjō shimasu

I empathize with her sadness.

I sympathize with her sadness.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 彼女 (kanojo) - "Ela" significa "彼女" (kanojo) em japonês.
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 悲しみ (kanashimi) - It means "sadness" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - particle that indicates action or direction
• 同情します (doujou shimasu) - means "sympathize" or "have compassion" in Japanese

私のコレクションはとても大切です。

Watashi no korekushon wa totemo taisetsu desu

My collection is very important.

• 私 - Personal pronoun "I" in Japanese
• の - particle that indicates possession, equivalent to "de" in English
• コレクション - "coleção" - collection
• は - particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, equivalent to "is" or "are" in English
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 大切 - Adjective that means "important" or "precious".
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate formality and respect in communication

私は明日の大会に出場します。

Watashi wa ashita no taikai ni shutsujō shimasu

I will compete in tomorrow's tournament.

I will participate in tomorrow's tournament.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "me"
• 明日 - adverb of time "tomorrow"
• の - possessive particle, indicates that "tomorrow" belongs to the next word
• 大会 - noun "competition"
• に - destination particle, indicates that "competition" is the destination of the action
• 出場 - verb "to participate"
• します - polite form of the verb "to do"

私の病気は治るでしょうか？

Watashi no byouki wa naoru deshou ka?

Will my illness be healed?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship between two things
• 病気 - Japanese noun meaning "disease"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 治る - Japanese verb that means "heal"
• でしょうか - Japanese expression that indicates a polite or uncertain question

私の頬は赤くなりました。

Watashi no hoho wa akaku narimashita

My cheeks turned red.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 頬 - Japanese word that means "cheek"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 赤く - Japanese adverb that means "red."
• なりました - japanese verb that means "became"

私は申します。

Watashi wa moushimasu

I'll introduce myself.

Sorry.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 申します - Japanese verb that means "to call oneself" or "to introduce oneself"