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:

私は辛い状況に堪えることができます。

Watashi wa tsurai jōkyō ni koraeru koto ga dekimasu

I can withstand difficult situations.

I can bear the painful situation.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 辛い (karai) - Adjective that means "spicy" or "hot"
• 状況 (joukyou) - noun meaning "situation" or "circumstance"
• に (ni) - particle indicating the grammatical function of "joukyou", in this case "in"
• 堪える (koraeru) - verb that means "to endure" or "to tolerate"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or abstract event, in this case "to endure"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - verb that means "to be able to" or "to be able to do"

私は車を動かすことができます。

Watashi wa kuruma o ugokasu koto ga dekimasu

I can move the car.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 車 (kuruma) - noun that means "car"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "car"
• 動かす (ugokasu) - verb that means "to move"
• こと (koto) - noun meaning "thing" or "action"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - Verb that means "to be able to"
• . (ponto) - punctuation mark indicating the end of the sentence

私はあなたに大切なことを伝えたいです。

Watashi wa anata ni taisetsu na koto o tsutaetai desu

I want to convey something important to you.

I want to say what's important.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• あなた (anata) - personal pronoun meaning "you"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the recipient of the action, in this case, "for you"
• 大切な (taisetsu na) - Adjective meaning "important" or "valuable".
• こと (koto) - noun meaning "thing" or "subject"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case, "the thing"
• 伝えたい (tsutaetai) - verb that means "to want to convey" or "to want to communicate"
• です (desu) - particle that indicates the formality of the sentence or that the action is in the present

私は靴をしっかりと締めました。

Watashi wa kutsu wo shikkari to shimerimashita

I squeezed my shoes firmly.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 靴 (kutsu) - noun meaning "shoe"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "shoe"
• しっかりと (shikkari to) - Adverb that means "firmly" or "strongly"
• 締めました (shimemashita) - verb meaning "to tighten" or "to bind", in the past tense and polite

私は電話を取り次ぐことができます。

Watashi wa denwa o toritsugu koto ga dekimasu

I can pass the call.

I can hand over the phone.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 電話 (denwa) - noun meaning "telephone"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case "telefone"
• 取り次ぐ (toritsugu) - The verb "to transfer (a phone call) to another person"
• こと (koto) - noun indicating an action or abstract event, in this case, "transfer a call"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - Verb that means "to be able to"

私は友達を庇うことができます。

Watashi wa tomodachi o kabau koto ga dekimasu

I can protect my friends.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "friend"
• 庇う (kabau) - verb that means "to protect" or "to defend"
• こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "protect"
• が (ga) - particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be able to"

私は彼女との再会を待ち望んでいます。

Watashi wa kanojo to no saikai o machinozonde imasu

I am anxiously waiting for the reunion with her.

I'm waiting for me to find her again.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 (kanojo) - noun meaning "girlfriend" or "her"
• と (to) - particle that indicates the connection between "I" and "she", in this case, "with"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "of the"
• 再会 (saikai) - noun meaning "gathering" or "meeting"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "to wait"
• 待ち望んでいます (machinozondeimasu) - verb that means "to wait eagerly"

私は年をとっていると感じています。

Watashi wa toshi wo totte iru to kanjiteimasu

I feel like I'm getting older.

I feel old.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 年 (toshi) - noun that means "year"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "year"
• とっている (totteiru) - compound verb that means "to be aging"
• と (to) - particle that indicates the connection between the verb and the next term
• 感じています (kanjiteimasu) - compound verb that means "to feel"

私は神様が私たちの人生を司ると信じています。

Watashi wa kamisama ga watashitachi no jinsei o tsukasadoru to shinjite imasu

I believe God will control our lives.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 神様 (kamisama) - noun that means "god"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "god"
• 私たち (watashitachi) - personal pronoun meaning "we"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "our"
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "life"
• 司る (tsukasadoru) - verb that means "to govern" or "to control"
• と (to) - particle that indicates direct quotation, in this case, "that"
• 信じています (shinjiteimasu) - verb that means "to believe" or "to have faith" conjugated in the affirmative present

私は日本語を話すことができます。

Watashi wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu

I can speak Japanese.

I can speak Japanese.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese" or "Japanese language"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 話す (hanasu) - verb meaning "to talk" or "to converse"
• こと (koto) - noun indicating an abstract action or event
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be able to"