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:

私は新しい仕事に就くことを決めました。

Watashi wa atarashii shigoto ni tsuku koto o kimemashita

I decided to take on a new job.

I decided to get a new job.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 新しい (atarashii) - 新しい (atarashii)
• 仕事 (shigoto) - 日本語の名詞で「仕事」という意味です。
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the direction or target of an action
• 就く (tsuku) - Japanese verb that means "to assume" or "to start"
• こと (koto) - Japanese noun that indicates an action or event
• を (wo) - direct object particle that indicates the target of the action
• 決めました (kimemashita) - Japanese verb in the past that means "decided"

私は毎朝早く起こすことができます。

Watashi wa maiasa hayaku okosu koto ga dekimasu

I can wake up early every morning.

I can wake up early every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 早く (hayaku) - adverb meaning "early"
• 起こす (okosu) - verb meaning "to wake up"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event
• が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• できます (dekimasu) - Verb that means "to be able to"

私は計画を見直す必要があると思います。

Watashi wa keikaku wo minaosu hitsuyou ga aru to omoimasu

I think I need to review my plan.

I think I need to review the plan.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 計画 (keikaku) - Japanese noun meaning "plan"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the action
• 見直す (minaosu) - Japanese verb meaning "to review" or "reconsider"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - Japanese adjective meaning "necessary"
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates who performs the action
• ある (aru) - Japanese verb that means "to exist"
• と (to) - quotation particle that indicates what was thought or said
• 思います (omoimasu) - Japanese verb that means "to think" or "to believe"

私は新しいレシピを試みることに決めました。

Watashi wa atarashii reshipi o kokoromiru koto ni kimemashita

I decided to try a new recipe.

I decided to try a new recipe.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 新しい (atarashii) - 新しい (atarashii)
• レシピ (reshipi) - Japanese noun that means "recipe".
• を (wo) - direct object particle indicating the object of the action, in this case "recipe"
• 試みる (kokoromiru) - Japanese verb that means "to try"
• ことに (koto ni) - expression that indicates the intention or decision to do something
• 決めました (kimemashita) - Japanese verb meaning "decide" in the past tense

私はあなたの質問に答えることができますか？

Watashi wa anata no shitsumon ni kotaeru koto ga dekimasu ka?

Can I answer your question?

Can I answer your question?

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• あなた (anata) - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "you"
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 質問 (shitsumon) - Japanese noun meaning "question"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle indicating the target of the action
• 答える (kotaeru) - Japanese verb meaning "to answer"
• こと (koto) - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• できますか (dekimasu ka) - Japanese expression meaning "is it possible?" or "can you?"

私は自分の人生を変えることができます。

Watashi wa jibun no jinsei o kaeru koto ga dekimasu

I can change my own life.

I can change my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 自分 (jibun) - Japanese reflexive pronoun that means "to oneself."
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my".
• 人生 (jinsei) - 生活 (seikatsu)
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "vida".
• 変える (kaeru) - Japanese verb that means "to change"
• こと (koto) - Japanese noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to change."
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - できる (dekiru)

私は困難な状況に耐えることができます。

Watashi wa konnan na joukyou ni taeru koto ga dekimasu

I can withstand difficult situations.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 困難な (konnan na) - Japanese adjective meaning "difficult"
• 状況 (joukyou) - Japanese noun that means "situation"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle that indicates the grammatical function of "place" or "time."
• 耐える (taeru) - Japanese verb that means "to endure" or "to hold on."
• ことができます (koto ga dekimasu) - Japanese expression meaning "to be able to"

私はこのフォームを完全に埋めることができます。

Watashi wa kono fōmu o kanzen ni umeru koto ga dekimasu

I can completely fill out this form.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• この (kono) - Japanese adjective that means "this"
• フォーム (fōmu) - formulário
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 完全に (kanzen ni) - Japanese adverb that means "completely."
• 埋める (umeru) - Japanese verb that means "to fill"
• こと (koto) - A palavra japonesa que significa "coisa" é "もの" (mono).
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• できます (dekimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to be able to"

私は花を嗅いでいると幸せな気分になります。

Watashi wa hana o kagu to shiawase na kibun ni narimasu

When smelling flowers

I feel happy when I smell the flowers.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 花 (hana) - Japanese noun meaning "flower"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 嗅いでいる (kaideiru) - Japanese verb meaning "to smell" in the present continuous tense
• と (to) - Japanese particle indicating the consequence or result of the previous action
• 幸せな (shiawasena) - Japanese adjective meaning "happy"
• 気分 (kibun) - Japanese noun meaning "state of mind"
• に (ni) - Japanese particle indicating the direction or target of the action
• なります (narimasu) - Japanese verb meaning "to become" in the formal present tense

私は秘密を隠すことができます。

Watashi wa himitsu wo kakusu koto ga dekimasu

I can hide secrets.

I can hide the secret.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 秘密 (himitsu) - Japanese noun meaning "secret"
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• 隠す (kakusu) - Japanese verb meaning "to hide"
• ことができます (koto ga dekimasu) - Japanese expression meaning "to be able to"