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:

私の身の上はいつも忙しいです。

Watashi no mi no ue wa itsumo isogashii desu

My life is always busy.

I'm always busy with myself.

• 私 - personal pronoun meaning "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle indicating possession or relationship between two things.
• 身の上 - "Personal situation" or "life story".
• は - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• いつも - adverb that means "always".
• 忙しい - "Busy" or "agitated".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

私の収入は安定しています。

Watashi no shūnyū wa antei shiteimasu

My income is stable.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - possessive particle that indicates ownership or belonging
• 収入 - noun meaning "income" or "salary"
• は - topic particle indicating the main subject of the sentence
• 安定 - Adjective meaning "stable" or "constant"
• しています - verb indicating continuous action in the present tense, in this case, "is stable"

私の祖父は水田を所有しています。

Watashi no sofu wa suiden o shoyu shite imasu

My grandfather owns a rice field.

My grandfather owns Paddy Fields.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 祖父 - noun meaning "grandfather" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my grandfather"
• 水田 - The noun that means "rice field" in Japanese.
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "has"
• 所有 - verb that means "to possess" in Japanese
• しています - expression that indicates continuous action in the present, in this case, "has"

私の健康は全快しています。

Watashi no kenkō wa zenkai shite imasu

My health is completely recovered.

My health is completely comfortable.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle indicating possession or a relationship between two things, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• 健康 - noun meaning "health" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the main theme or subject of the sentence, equivalent to "é" or "está" in Portuguese
• 全快 - noun meaning "complete recovery" in Japanese
• しています - compound verb indicating an action in progress, equivalent to "estou" or "está" in Portuguese

私の母校はとても素晴らしい学校です。

Watashi no bokou wa totemo subarashii gakkou desu

My primary school is a very good school.

My alma mater is a wonderful school.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 母校 - noun that means "school where one graduated"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "my school"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means "wonderful"
• 学校 - noun meaning "school"
• です - verb that indicates the polite way of affirming or asking something, in this case, "is"

私の恋人はとても素晴らしい人です。

Watashi no koibito wa totemo subarashii hito desu

My lover is a very wonderful person.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• 恋人 - Noun that means "lover" or "boyfriend/girlfriend" in Japanese
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, equivalent to "é" in Portuguese
• とても - adverb meaning "very" in Japanese
• 素晴らしい - adjective that means "wonderful" or "excellent" in Japanese
• 人 - noun that means "person" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate state or quality

私のポジションはデザインチームのリーダーです。

Watashi no pojishon wa dezain chiimu no riidaa desu

My position is the design team lead.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• の - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• ポジション - Word borrowed from English meaning "position"
• は - particle that indicates the theme of the sentence, equivalent to "is" in English
• デザインチーム - Compound word that means "design team"
• の - particle indicating possession, equivalent to "de" in Portuguese
• リーダー - Word borrowed from English meaning "leader"
• です - verb "to be" in the present, equivalent to "is" in English

私は毎日勤務しています。

Watashi wa mainichi kinmu shiteimasu

I work everyday.

I work every day.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎日 - adverb meaning "every day"
• 勤務 - noun that means "work" or "service"
• しています - verb "suru" in the present continuous, indicating an ongoing action

私は彼女の優しさを見習いたいです。

Watashi wa kanojo no yasashisa o minaraitai desu

I want to learn from her kindness.

I want to imitate your kindness.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 彼女 - noun meaning "she" or "girlfriend" in Japanese
• の - possession particle indicating that "優しさ" belongs to "彼女"
• 優しさ - noun meaning "kindness" or "friendliness" in Japanese
• を - object particle indicating that "優しさ" is the direct object of the action
• 見習いたい - verb meaning "to want to learn" or "to want to follow" in Japanese, conjugated in the affirmative present tense
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or polished form of the sentence, equivalent to the verb "ser" in Portuguese

私は短大で日本語を勉強しました。

Watashi wa tandaide nihongo o benkyō shimashita

I studied Japanese in technical college.

I studied Japanese at a junior college.

• 私 - The personal pronoun that means "I" in Japanese.
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 短大 - abbreviation of "短期大学", which means "short-term college" in Japanese.
• で - particle that indicates the place where an action occurs, in this case "at the university"
• 日本語 - noun that means "Japanese" in Japanese
• を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "studying Japanese"
• 勉強 - verb that means "to study" in Japanese
• しました - past form of the verb "する", which means "to do" in Japanese, indicating that the action of studying Japanese was completed in the past