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:

ジャンプが大好きです。

Janpu ga daisuki desu

I love to jump.

ジャンプ (Jump) - a Japanese word meaning "jump" or "leap". In this context, it can refer to a Japanese manga magazine called Weekly Shōnen Jump.
が (ga) - a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence. In this case, "Jump" is the subject.
大好き (daisuki) - a Japanese expression that means "to like a lot" or "to love".
です (desu) - a Japanese grammatical particle that indicates the end of a sentence and formality. It is similar to "ser" in Portuguese.

ジュースを飲みたいです。

Jūsu o nomitai desu

I want to drink juice.

ジュース (juusu) - Juice
を (wo) - direct object particle
飲みたい (nomitai) - to want to drink
です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

じゃん拳で勝負しよう！

Jan ken de shoubu shiyou!

Let's compete with Jan Fist!

じゃん拳 - "janken" means in Japanese, which is the game of rock, paper, and scissors.
で - particle that indicates the means or method used to do something.
勝負 - "shoubu" means a competition or contest.
しよう - imperative form of the verb "suru", which means "to do".
！ - exclamation mark that indicates enthusiasm or emphasis.

ショーを見に行きたいです。

Shō wo mi ni ikitai desu

I want to go see the show.

ショー (shō) - show
を (wo) - particle indicando o objeto direto de uma frase
見 (mi) - to see
に (ni) - partícula indicando o propósito ou destino de uma ação
行きたい (ikitai) - want to go
です (desu) - The polite copula indicating the end of a sentence in Japanese is "です" (desu).

スキーは冬の楽しみです。

Sukii wa fuyu no tanoshimi desu

Skiing is winter fun.

Skiing is a winter pleasure.

スキー - ski
は - Topic particle
冬 - Winter
の - Possession particle
楽しみ - fun, pleasure
です - verb to be in the polite form

ステレオを買いました。

Sutereo wo kaimashita

I bought a stereo.

I bought a sound system.

ステレオ (suterio) - "estéreo" em japonês significa ステレオ (sutereo).
を (wo) - Direct object particle in Japanese
買いました (kaimashita) - 動詞「買う」の過去形は「買った」です。

スタンドはジョジョの奇妙な冒険に出てくる重要な要素です。

Sutando wa Jojo no Kimyō na Bōken ni detekuru jūyōna yōso desu

The booth is a major factor in JoJo's strange adventure.

スタンド - word in Japanese that refers to a supernatural power present in the series Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 - title of the manga and anime series created by Hirohiko Araki.
出てくる - verb in Japanese that means "to appear" or "to emerge".
重要な - adjective in Japanese meaning "important".
要素 - noun in Japanese that means "element" or "component".
です - auxiliary verb in Japanese that indicates an affirmation or a statement.