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:

四日間休みが欲しいです。

Yokka kan yasumi ga hoshii desu

I want four days off.

I want a four-day break.

• 四日間 - "四日" em japonês.
• 休み - It means "rest" or "day off" in Japanese.
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 欲しい - Japanese verb that means "to want" or "to desire".
• です - The polite and respectful form of the verb "to be" in Japanese is "です" (desu).

回答をお願いします。

Kaitō o onegaishimasu

Please give me an answer.

• 回答 - means "response" in Japanese.
• を - Object particle in Japanese.
• お願いします - The polite request expression in Japanese can be translated as "please" or "thank you in advance".

図々しい人は嫌われる。

Zuzushii hito wa kirawareru

Shameless people are hated.

I hate people who are attracted.

• 図々しい - adjective meaning "brazen", "cheeky", "shameless".
• 人 - noun meaning "person".
• は - particle that marks the subject of the sentence.
• 嫌われる - verb in the passive form meaning "to be hated", "to be detested".

固有の文化を大切にしましょう。

Koyū no bunka o taisetsu ni shimashou

Take care of your unique culture.

• 固有の - means "own, exclusive, peculiar".
• 文化 - means "culture".
• を - Particle that indicates the object of the action.
• 大切に - means "carefully, with attention, with affection".
• しましょう - The polite and respectful form of the verb "fazer", in the sense of "let's do", is "しましょう" (shimashou).

国定公園は美しい自然がたくさんあります。

Kokutei kōen wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan arimasu

Kokutei National Park has a lot of beautiful nature.

Kokusai Park has a lot of beautiful nature.

• 国定公園 - National park
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - pretty
• 自然 - Nature
• が - Subject particle
• たくさん - Very
• あります - They exist

国境を越える旅がしたいです。

Kokkyō wo koeru tabi ga shitai desu

I want to take a trip crossing the border.

I want to travel the border.

• 国境 - country border
• を - object particle
• 越える - cross, overtake
• 旅 - trip
• が - subject particle
• したい - to want to do
• です - be (polite form)

地下鉄に乗って都市を探索しよう。

Jikatetsu ni notte toshi o tansaku shiyou

Take the subway to explore the city.

• 地下鉄 (chikatetsu) - subway
• に (ni) - particle indicating location
• 乗って (notte) - boarding, enter
• 都市 (toshi) - city
• を (wo) - particle that indicates direct object
• 探索 (tansaku) - exploration, search
• しよう (shiyou) - imperative form of the verb "suru" (to do), indicating suggestion or invitation

堪らない美味しさです。

Kararanai oishisa desu

It is an unbearable delight.

It is an unbearable flavor.

• 堪らない - unbearable, intolerable
• 美味しさ - delicious, delicious taste
• です - yes, it is

塵取りを使って部屋を掃除しました。

Chiritori wo tsukatte heya wo souji shimashita

I cleaned the room using a vacuum cleaner.

I cleaned the room using dust removal.

• 塵取り - tool for cleaning dust
• を - direct object particle
• 使って - using
• 部屋 - quarto, living room, room
• を - direct object particle
• 掃除 - cleaning
• しました - verb "to do" conjugated in the past

墜落した飛行機の犠牲者に哀悼の意を表します。

Tsuiraku shita hikouki no giseisha ni aidou no i wo hyou shimasu

We express our condolences to the victims of the crashed plane.

Express the condolences to the victims of the rugged plane.

• 墜落した飛行機 - plane crash
• の - Possession particle
• 犠牲者 - victims
• に - target particle
• 哀悼の意を表します - we express our condolences