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:

久し振りに会えて嬉しいです。

Hisashiburi ni aete ureshii desu

Glad to see you after so long.

Glad to meet you after a long time.

• 久し振りに - long time no see
• 会えて - finding
• 嬉しい - happy
• です - is

久しい間ずっと待っていた。

Hisashii aida zutto matteita

I waited a long time.

I've been waiting a long time.

• 久しい - adjective that means "long", "prolonged"
• 間 - noun that means "space", "interval"
• ずっと - adverb that means "always", "continuously"
• 待っていた - verb meaning "to wait", conjugated in the past and in the progressive form

九州は美しい島です。

Kyushu wa utsukushii shima desu

Kyushu is a beautiful island.

Kyushu is a beautiful island.

• 九州 - name of the region in southern Japan
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• 島 - noun meaning "island"
• です - verb to be in the polite form

了解しました

Ryōkai shimashita

Understood.

I understood

• 了解 - means "understood" or "comprehended" in Japanese.
• しました - is the past form of the verb "to do" in Japanese, indicating that the action of "understanding" has already been completed.

乾杯しましょう！

Kanpai shimashou!

Let's toast!

• 乾杯 - "kanpai" means "toast" in Japanese
• しましょう - "shimashou" is a polite way of saying "let's do it"
• ! - exclamation mark used to express enthusiasm or emphasis

予測は難しいです。

Yosoku wa muzukashii desu

Prediction is difficult.

It's hard to predict.

• 予測 - forecast, prognosis
• は - Topic particle
• 難しい - difficult
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

事務を担当しています。

Jimu wo tantou shiteimasu

I am in charge of administrative tasks.

I'm in charge of office work.

• 事務 - means "administrative work" or "office".
• を - direct object particle in Japanese.
• 担当 - means "responsible for" or "in charge of".
• しています - polite form of the verb "to do" in Japanese, indicating present continuous action.

二つの物が等しいです。

Futatsu no mono ga hitoshii desu

The two objects are the same.

Two things are the same.

• 二つの物 - means "two objects" in Japanese.
• が - subject particle in Japanese.
• 等しい - It means "equal" in Japanese.
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, used to indicate the existence or state of something.

二人で行きましょう。

Futari de ikimashou

Let's go together, the two of us.

Let's go together.

• 二人 (futari) - It means "two people."
• で (de) - it is a particle that indicates the medium or the way something is done
• 行きましょう (ikimashou) - It is a verb that means "let's go" or "let's do"

五十音は日本語の基本的な音の組み合わせを表します。

Gojūon wa nihongo no kihonteki na oto no kumiawase o hyō shimasu

The 1950s indicate the basic combination of the Japanese sound.

• 五十音 - means "fifty sounds" and refers to the set of Japanese characters used to represent sounds and syllables.
• 日本語 - means "Japanese language".
• 基本的な - means "basic" or "fundamental".
• 音 - means "sound" or "musical note".
• 組み合わせ - means "combination" or "arrangement".
• 表します - means "represents" or "shows".