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:

あくどい色の服を着るのは好きじゃない。

Akudoi iro no fuku wo kiru no wa suki janai

I don't like to wear a terrible color.

I don't like to wear a terrible color.

• あくどい色 - Dark or gloomy color
• 服 - clothing
• 着る - wear
• のは - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 好き - Like
• じゃない - Informal negative of "desu", which indicates negation.

アジアは多様な文化が混ざり合う素晴らしい大陸です。

Ájia wa tayou na bunka ga mazari au subarashii tairiku desu

Asia is a wonderful continent where diverse cultures blend together.

Asia is a wonderful continent where a variety of cultures blend together.

• アジア (Ajia) - Asia
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 多様な (tayouna) - diverse, varied
• 文化 (bunka) - culture
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 混ざり合う (mazariawau) - to mix, to combine
• 素晴らしい (subarashii) - wonderful, splendid
• 大陸 (tairiku) - continent
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

アフリカは美しい大陸です。

Afurika wa utsukushii tairiku desu

Africa is a beautiful continent.

Africa is a beautiful continent.

• アフリカ - Africa
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Beautiful, lovely
• 大陸 - continent
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

イメージを大切にしましょう。

Imēji o taisetsu ni shimashou

Let's value the image.

Let's value the image.

• イメージ - image
• を - object particle
• 大切 - important, valuable
• に - adverbial particle
• しましょう - let's do it

鉢には植物を植えました。

Hachi ni wa shokubutsu wo uemashita

I planted a plant in the vase.

I planted plants in the pan.

• 鉢 (hachi) - It means "vase" or "pot" in Japanese.
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates the object of an action, in this case, "no"
• は (wa) - a particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "the vase"
• 植物 (shokubutsu) - means "plant" in Japanese
• を (wo) - a particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case, "planted"
• 植えました (utaemashita) - a polite past form of the verb "plantar"

鏡は私たちの姿を映し出す。

Kagami wa watashitachi no sugata o utsushidasu

The mirror reflects our image.

The mirror reflects us.

• 鏡 (kagami) - mirror
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私たち (watashitachi) - we
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 姿 (sugata) - appearance, figure
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 映し出す (utsushidasu) - reflect, project

「文法が正しい文章を書くことは重要です。」

Bunpou ga tadashii bunshou wo kaku koto wa juuyou desu

It is important to write the correct sentence.

• 「文法が正しい文章を書くことは重要です。」
• 「」 - Japanese quotation marks
• 文法 - Word that means "grammar"
• が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 正しい - adjective meaning "correct"
• 文章 - Noun that means "phrase" or "text"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 書く - Verb meaning "to write"
• こと - noun meaning "thing" or "fact"
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 重要 - Adjective meaning "important"
• です - Verb that indicates the state or condition of the sentence

真空は空気のない状態を指します。

Shinkuu wa kuuki no nai joutai wo shimeshimasu

Vacuum refers to a state without air.

• Input - - - Please provide data entry into the system.
• 真空 - - - Japanese word that means "vacuum".
• は - - - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 空気 - - - Japanese word that means "air".
• の - - - Japanese particle indicating possession or relationship.
• ない - - - Japanese adjective that means "nonexistent".
• 状態 - - - Japanese word that means "state" or "condition".
• を - - - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
• 指します - - - Japanese verb that means "indicate" or "point".

連邦政府は国民の福祉を守るために尽力しています。

Renpō seifu wa kokumin no fukushi o mamoru tame ni jinryoku shiteimasu

The federal government is working to protect the welfare of the people.

• 連邦政府 - - federal government
• は - - Topic particle
• 国民 - - people/nationality
• の - - Possessive particle
• 福祉 - - well-being
• を - - direct object particle
• 守る - - protect
• ために - - for
• 尽力しています - - trying hard

圧迫されると息苦しくなる。

Appaku sareru to ikigurushiku naru

When I'm under pressure

It becomes muffled when compressed.

• Input - - indicates that the next line contains the input.
• 圧迫される - a Japanese word meaning "to be pressed".
• と - Japanese particle that indicates a connection between two things or events.
• 息苦しく - a Japanese word meaning "to feel short of breath".
• なる - a Japanese word meaning "to become".
• Output - - indicates that the next line contains the output or result.