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
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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:

乗り換えることは新しい冒険を始めることです。

Norikae suru koto wa atarashii bouken o hajimeru koto desu

Changing trains is like starting a new adventure.

The transfer is starting a new adventure.

乗り換える - means "to change means of transport" or "to make a connection"
こと - is a particle that indicates that the previous word is a noun and that it is being used as the subject of the sentence
は - it is a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
新しい - means "new"
冒険 - means "adventure"
を - it is a particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
始める - It means "Begin"
こと - again the particle that indicates the noun used as the topic of the sentence
です - it is a particle that indicates that the sentence is a statement

丘の上から眺める景色は美しいです。

oka no ue kara nagameru keshiki wa utsukushii desu

The view of the hill top is beautiful.

The view of the hill is beautiful.

丘の上から - from the top of the hill
眺める - observe
景色 - landscape
美しい - beautiful
です - is (statement particle)

両替をしてください。

ryougae wo shite kudasai

Please exchange money.

Please change money.

両替 - It means "exchange" or "currency exchange".
を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
して - form of the verb "suru" which means "to do".
ください - Polite form of the verb "kudasaru" which means "please do".

並行して歩く。

Heikou shite aruku

Walk in parallel.

並行して - means "together" or "parallel".
歩く - means "to walk" or "to stroll".

三日月が輝く夜空は美しいです。

Mikazuki ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu

The night when the crescent moon shines is beautiful.

The night sky where the crescent moon shines is beautiful.

三日月 - means "crescent moon" and is represented by the ideogram 三日月.
が - grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "crescent moon".
輝く - verb that means "to shine" and is represented by the ideogram 輝く.
夜空 - means "night sky" and is represented by the characters 夜空.
は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "night sky".
美しい - adjective that means "beautiful" and is represented by the ideogram 美しい.
です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence.

不思議なことが起こるかもしれない。

Fushigi na koto ga okoru kamoshirenai

Strange things can happen.

A strange thing can happen.

不思議な - mysterious, strange
こと - thing
が - subject particle
起こる - Happen
かもしれない - Maybe, it could be that

もう一度やり直してください。

Mou ichido yarinaoshite kudasai

Please try again.

もう一度 - "once again"
やり直して - "try again"
ください - "Please"

ヨーロッパは美しい場所です。

Yōroppa wa utsukushii basho desu

Europe is a beautiful place.

ヨーロッパ - Europe
は - Topic particle
美しい - pretty, beautiful
場所 - place
です - Verb to be/estar in the present

ラッシュアワーに電車に乗るのは大変です。

Rasshuawaa ni densha ni noru no wa taihen desu

It's hard to get the train during peak hours.

It's hard to get on the train at Rush.

ラッシュアワー (rasshu awaa) - rush hour
に (ni) - particle indicating the target or the time at which something occurs
電車 (densha) - train
に (ni) - particle indicating the target or the time at which something occurs
乗る (noru) - get on a means of transportation
のは (no wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
大変 (taihen) - Difficult, laborious
です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form