Translation and Meaning of: と - to

The Japanese word と [to] is one of the most fundamental and frequently used particles in the language. If you are learning Japanese, you have certainly come across it in basic sentences or even in more complex dialogues. In this article, we will explore its meaning, common uses, and how it fits into the grammatical structure of Japanese. Moreover, we will look at some curiosities about how this small particle can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

If you have already used the Suki Nihongo dictionary, you know that it is a great tool for understanding words and particles like と. Here, we go beyond simple translation and dive into the details that make this particle so essential for communication in Japan. Shall we begin?

The basic meaning and usage of と

The particle と has as its main function to indicate companionship or connection between elements. In English, it can be translated as "and" or "with," depending on the context. For example, in the phrase "りんごとバナナ" (ringo to banana), it means "apple and banana," joining the two items in a list.

Another common use is to express joint action, as in "友達と映画を見た" (tomodachi to eiga o mita), which means "I watched a movie with a friend." Note how と establishes a relationship between the mentioned people or objects, creating a clear connection in the sentence.

The origin and evolution of と

Linguistic studies indicate that と comes from ancient Japanese, where it already served similar functions to the current ones. Unlike many particles that have undergone significant changes over the centuries, と has maintained its form and basic use practically unchanged since the Heian period (794-1185).

Interestingly, research shows that と is one of the oldest particles still in continuous use in modern Japanese. Its simplicity and versatility explain why it has stood the test of time, appearing even in some of Japan's oldest texts.

Tips for using と correctly

A common confusion among students is when to use と instead of other particles like や (ya) or に (ni). Remember: と indicates a complete list or a specific joint action, while や suggests an incomplete list. For example, "本とノート" (hon to nōto) specifically means "book and notebook," without other implied items.

To better memorize, try to associate と with the symbol of a link or chain, as it always connects elements in a direct and explicit way. Another tip is to pay attention to dialogues in anime or Japanese dramas, where と appears frequently in everyday conversations.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 無論 (muron) - Without a doubt
• 当然 (touzen) - Naturally; Of course
• なんといっても (nanto ittemo) - In any case; Above all
• そうだろう (sou darou) - That's not how it is, right?
• そうに決まっている (sou ni kimatteru) - Sure it is like that.
• そうだと思う (sou da to omou) - I think it's like this.
• そう思う (sou omou) - I think like this
• そうでしょう (sou deshou) - Isn't it true?
• そうですね (sou desu ne) - This is true, isn’t it?
• そうだね (sou da ne) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだよね (sou da yo ne) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだよな (sou da yo na) - That's right, isn't it?
• そうだな (sou da na) - Yes, that's right
• そうかな (sou kana) - Is it like this?
• そうだろうか (sou darou ka) - Is it like this?
• そうだとすれば (sou da to sureba) - If that's the case
• そうだとしたら (sou da to shitara) - If this is true
• そうなら (sou nara) - If that's the case
• そうならば (sou naraba) - If that's the case
• そういうことだ (sou iu koto da) - That's how it is
• そういうことになる (sou iu koto ni naru) - It will reach that point.
• そういうことになっている (sou iu koto ni natteiru) - It is defined like this
• そういうことになった (sou iu koto ni natta) - This happened
• そういうことになると (sou iu koto ni naru to) - If this happens
• そういうことになると思う (sou iu koto ni naru to omou) - I think it's going to be like this.

と

Romaji: to
Kana: と
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: 1. if (conjunction); 2. Promoted pawn (shogi) (ABBR)

Meaning in English: 1. if (conjunction); 2. promoted pawn (shogi) (abbr)

Definition: "To" is a conjunction that expresses a connection between sentences or words.

Example Sentences - (と) to

See below some example sentences:

女の人はとても美しいです。

Onna no hito wa totemo utsukushii desu

The women are very beautiful.

The woman is very beautiful.

• 女の人 - means "woman" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "woman".
• とても - it's an adverb that means "very".
• 美しい - it's an adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful".
• です - it is a grammatical particle that indicates the formality of the sentence and can be translated as "is".

始めることは成功への第一歩です。

Hajimeru koto wa seikou e no daiichi ho desu

Starting is the first step towards success.

Starting is the first step to success.

• 始めること - beginning
• は - Topic particle
• 成功への - towards success
• 第一歩 - First step
• です - Verb to be/estar

夢は叶うものだと信じている。

Yume wa kanau mono da to shinjite iru

I believe that dreams come true.

I believe that dreams come true.

• 夢 - Dream
• は - Topic particle
• 叶う - come true, become reality
• もの - thing, object
• だ - verb "to be" in the affirmative form
• と - Quote particle
• 信じている - believe, have faith

塩を加えると味が良くなる。

Shio wo kuwaeru to aji ga yoku naru

Adding salt improves the taste.

Add salt to improve the taste.

• 塩 (しお) - salt
• を - direct object particle
• 加える (くわえる) - add
• と - conditional particle
• 味 (あじ) - flavor
• が - subject particle
• 良くなる (よくなる) - To improve

団体の活動はとても盛んです。

Dantai no katsudou wa totemo sakon desu

Group activities are very exciting.

The group's activities are very active.

• 団体 - group, team
• の - Possession particle
• 活動 - activity
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 盛ん - prosperous, active
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

国有地は国が所有する土地のことです。

Kokuyūchi wa kuni ga shoyū suru tochi no koto desu

National land refers to lands owned by the government.

State-owned land is land owned by the country.

• 国有地 - public land
• 国 - country
• 所有する - to possess
• 土地 - earth
• こと - thing
• です - Is (verb to be in the present tense)

国産の車はとても信頼性が高いです。

Kokusansha no kuruma wa totemo shinraisei ga takai desu

Domestic cars are very reliable.

Household cars are very reliable.

• 国産 - means "produced in Japan"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 車 - means "car"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 信頼性 - means "reliability"
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 高い - adjective that means "high" or "elevated"
• です - verb that indicates the polite way of saying or asking

土を耕すことは偉大な仕事です。

tsuchi wo tagayasu koto wa idai na shigoto desu

Cultivating the earth is a great work.

The coating soil is a great job.

• 土を耕すこと - It means "to plow the land".
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the theme of the sentence.
• 偉大な - Adjective meaning "great" or "admirable".
• 仕事 - Noun meaning "work" or "occupation".
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

地理はとても興味深い学問です。

Chiri wa totemo kyoumi fukai gakumon desu

Geography is a very interesting subject.

Geography is a very interesting study.

• 地理 - geography
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 興味深い - interesting
• 学問 - academic discipline
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

同一人物だと思います。

Dōitsu jinbutsu da to omoimasu

I think it's the same person.

I think it's the same person.

• 同一 (douitsu) - means "same" or "identical".
• 人物 (jinbutsu) - means "character" or "figure".
• だと (da to) - a combination of particles that indicates an assumption or belief.
• 思います (omoimasu) - means "I believe" or "I think".