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:

王女は美しいです。

Oujo wa utsukushii desu

The princess is beautiful.

The princess is beautiful.

• 王女 - "oujo" - means "princess"
• は - wa- Topic particle
• 美しい - "utsukushii" - means "beautiful"
• です - desu - polite way of "being"

現金で支払いました。

Genkin de shiharaimashita

I paid money.

I paid money.

• 現金 - It means "cash" in Japanese.
• で - it's a particle that indicates the means or method used to perform an action.
• 支払い - means "payment" in Japanese.
• ました - it is a polite and courteous form of the verb "to do" in the past.

生ける花は美しいです。

Ikeru hana wa utsukushii desu

The living flowers are beautiful.

The vibrant flowers are beautiful.

• 生ける花 - ikeru hana (alive flower, flower arranged in a vase)
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful (pretty, nice)
• です - desu (verb to be)

無事に帰宅しました。

Mujou ni kitaku shimashita

I returned home safely.

I got home safely.

• 無事に - "without problems" or "without incident"
• 帰宅 - "coming home"
• しました - "made" or "realized"

無理はしないでください。

Muri wa shinaide kudasai

Don't do something impossible.

Don't force yourself.

• 無理 (muri) - means "impossible" or "forced".
• は (wa) - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• しないで (shinaide) - negative form of the verb "fazer". In this case, it means "do not do".
• ください (kudasai) - Polite expression that means "please" or "do".

焦がしたご飯は美味しくないです。

Kogashita gohan wa oishikunai desu

Burnt rice is not tasty.

The steamed rice is not delicious.

• 焦がした - burnt
• ご飯 - rice
• は - Topic particle
• 美味しく - delicious
• ない - negation
• です - polite way of being/being

煉瓦の壁が美しい家。

Renga no kabe ga utsukushii ie

The house with a brick wall is beautiful.

A house with a beautiful brick wall.

• 煉瓦 - brick
• の - Possession particle
• 壁 - wall
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - beautiful
• 家 - house

煙が目にしみる。

Kemuri ga me ni shimiru

The smoke is annoying my eyes.

The smoke is soaked.

• 煙 (kemuri) - smoke
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 目 (me) - Eye
• に (ni) - target particle
• しみる (shimiru) - penetrate, enter (in this case, the smoke enters the eyes)

照明を点灯してください。

Shoumei wo tentou shite kudasai

Please turn on the lighting.

Please turn on the lighting.

• 照明 (shoumei) - lighting
• を (wo) - object particle
• 点灯 (tentou) - turn on
• してください (shite kudasai) - Please, make.

爆弾が爆発した。

Bakudan ga bakuhatsu shita

The Bomb Exploded.

The bomb exploded.

• 爆弾 (bakudan) - bomb
• が (ga) - partícula que indica o sujeito de uma frase
• 爆発した (bakuhatsu shita) - exploded