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:

カムバックは成功するでしょう。

Kamubakku wa seikou suru deshou

The return will be successful.

• カムバック - word in Japanese that means "return" or "turn back"
• は - particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "return"
• 成功する - verb in Japanese that means "to succeed"
• でしょう - a Japanese expression that indicates an assumption or probability, in this case, "probably"

カレーはとても美味しいです。

Karee wa totemo oishii desu

The curry is very delicious.

Curry is very delicious.

• カレー (karē) - Curry
• は (wa) - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• とても (totemo) - muito, extremamente
• 美味しい (oishii) - delicioso, saboroso
• です (desu) - polite copula, similar to "is" or "am" in English

きちっとやりましょう。

kichitto yarimashou

Let's do it right.

Let's do it correctly.

• きちっと - Adverb that means "with precision" or "with accuracy"
• やりましょう - verb that means "let's do"

きちんとした服装で会議に出席しました。

Kichinto shita fukusō de kaigi ni shusseki shimashita

I attended the meeting dressed appropriately.

I attended the meeting in proper clothing.

• きちんとした - well-groomed, well-dressed
• 服装 - clothing, attire
• で - indicates the means, the way something is done
• 会議 - meeting, conference
• に - indicates the place where something happens
• 出席 - presence, attendance
• しました - past tense of the verb "to do"

クリーニングに出した服がピカピカになった。

Kurīningu ni dashita fuku ga pikapika ni natta

The clothes I put for cleaning became bright.

• クリーニング (kurīningu) - dry cleaning
• に (ni) - Particle indicating the target of the action
• 出した (dashita) - past tense of the verb "to put out"
• 服 (fuku) - clothes
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• ピカピカ (pikapika) - brilliant, shining
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the resulting state of the action
• なった (natta) - past tense of the verb "to become"

ご馳走さまでした。

Gochisousama deshita

Thanks for the delicious meal.

It was a feast.

• ご - Japanese honorific prefix
• 馳走 - delicious dish, banquet
• さま - Japanese honorific suffix
• でした - past tense of the verb "to be"

こちらはどうでしょうか？

Kochira wa dou deshou ka?

How about now?

• こちら - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this one"
• は - topic particle, which indicates the subject of the sentence
• どう - adverb meaning "like"
• でしょう - auxiliary verb that indicates a supposition or possibility
• か - interrogative particle that transforms the sentence into a question
• ？ - punctuation mark that indicates a question

このブローチはとても美しいです。

Kono burōchi wa totemo utsukushii desu

This brooch is very beautiful.

This brooch is very beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun "this"
• ブローチ - noun "brooch"
• は - Topic particle
• とても - adverb "very"
• 美しい - adjective "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

この映像は美しいです。

Kono eizou wa utsukushii desu

This image is beautiful.

This video is beautiful.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 映像 - noun meaning "image"
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

この写真を拡大して見てみましょう。

Kono shashin o kakudai shite mite mimashou

Let's zoom in on this photo and take a look.

Let's expand this photo.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• 写真 - noun meaning "photo"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 拡大 - verb meaning "to enlarge"
• して - particle indicating complementary action
• 見て - verb meaning "to see"
• みましょう - polite form of the verb indicating "let's do it"