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:

星が輝く夜空は美しいです。

Hoshi ga kagayaku yozora wa utsukushii desu

The bright starry night is beautiful.

The night sky where the star shines is beautiful.

• 星が輝く - hoshi ga kagayaku- the stars shine
• 夜空 - yozora- night sky
• は - wa- Topic particle
• 美しい - utsukushii- pretty, beautiful
• です - desu- verb to be in the polite form

是非とも参加してください。

Shihai tomo sanka shite kudasai

Please participate at all costs.

Please join us.

• 是非とも - expression that means "by all means," "in any way"
• 参加 - verb that means "to participate"
• してください - expression that means "please, do"

時代は常に変化しています。

Jidai wa tsuneni henka shiteimasu

Times are always changing.

Times are constantly changing.

• 時代 (jidai) - means "era" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 常に (tsuneni) - adverb meaning "always"
• 変化 (henka) - noun that means "change" or "transformation"
• しています (shiteimasu) - compound verb indicating an ongoing action, in this case "is changing"

時刻を確認してください。

Jikoku wo kakunin shite kudasai

Check the time, please.

Please check the time.

• 時刻 - means "hour" or "time" in Japanese.
• を - direct object particle in Japanese.
• 確認 - means "confirm" in Japanese.
• してください - Japanese expression meaning "please do".

日程を確認してください。

Nittei wo kakunin shite kudasai

Please check the agenda.

Please check the schedule.

• 日程 - means "agenda" or "calendar" in Japanese.
• を - direct object particle in Japanese.
• 確認 - means "check" or "confirm" in Japanese.
• して - conjugated form of the verb "suru" which means "to do" in Japanese.
• ください - imperative form of the verb "kudasai" which means "please" in Japanese.

早急に対応してください。

Sōkyū ni taiō shite kudasai

Please answer quickly.

Please answer immediately.

• 早急に - adverb that means "urgently" or "immediately"
• 対応 - noun that means "response," "reaction," or "treatment"
• して - particle that indicates action or verb in the imperative
• ください - verb meaning "please" or "do"

明くる日に会いましょう。

Mokuru hi ni aimashou

Let's meet next day.

I see you on a brilliant day.

• 明くる (akuru) - means "next" or "following"
• 日 (hi) - means "day"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the time at which something occurs
• 会いましょう (aimashou) - means "let's meet"

明日は晴れるでしょう。

Ashita wa hareru deshou

Tomorrow is expected to be sunny.

Tomorrow will be sunny.

• 明日 - tomorrow
• は - Topic particle
• 晴れる - to be sunny
• でしょう - expression of probability or assumption

教科書を読んで勉強しましょう。

Kyōkasho o yonde benkyō shimashou

Let's read the book and study.

Let's read the book and study.

• 教科書 - textbook
• を - direct object particle
• 読んで - conjunctive form of the verb "to read"
• 勉強 - studying
• しましょう - polite form of the verb "to do"

数学は難しいです。

Sūgaku wa muzukashii desu

Mathematics is difficult.

Mathematics is difficult.

• 数学 (sūgaku) - Mathematics
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 難しい (muzukashii) - Difficult
• です (desu) - Verb ser/estar (polite form)